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A  HANDBOOK 

OF 

LEGENDARY  AND  MYTHOLOGICAL  ART. 


CLAEA  ERSKINE  CLEMENT, 

AUTHOR  OF      A  SIMPLE  STORY  OF  THE  ORIENT." 


NEW  YORK: 
PUBLISHED  BY  HURD  AND  HOUGHTON. 
ffiainiJtftige :  a&tbetsfHe  i9tess. 
187L 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1871,  by 

Clara  Erskine  Clement, 
in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington 


RIVERSIDE,  CAMBRIDGE: 
^STEREOTYPED    AND   PRINTED  BY 
H.  0.  HOUaHTOX  AND  COMPANY. 

lHtGtTTVCt»l» 
LlBSttRt 


PEEFAOE. 


This  book,  originating  in  my  own  experience  of  the  want  of 
some  hand-book  of  reference,  both  in  reading  and  in  visiting 
art  galleries  when  travelling,  has  been  written  with  a  threefold 
motive.  I  have  endeavored  to  produce  something  that  would 
interest  and  instruct  my  children,  to  whom  this  as  well  as  all 
the  labors  of  my  life  are  dedicated  ;  to  acquire,  for  myself,  a 
more  exact  knowledge  of  the  subjects  herein  treated  ;  and  to 
make  this  effort  to  supply  my  own  necessity  the  means  of  use- 
fulness to  others  who  feel  the  same  need. 

The  study  and  research  thus  occasioned  have  accomplished 
the  most  selfish  of  my  desires ;  if  the  others  shall  be  realized, 
even  imperfectly,  my  ambition  will  be  satisfied. 

Were  I  to  make  my  acknowledgments  to  all  the  authorities 
which  I  have  consulted,  the  book  would  be  enlarged  by  some 
pages,  but  I  would  mention  Alban  Butler's  "  Lives  of  the 
Saints;"  Didron's  ''Christian  Iconography;"  Mrs.  Jameson's 
Works  ;  "  La  Legende  Doree  ; "  Perkins'  "  Tuscan  and  Italian 
Sculptors  ;  "  Miller's  Ancient  Art  and  its  Remains  ;  "  "  II 
Perfetto  Legendario ; "  "  History  of  Painting  in  Italy,"  by 
Crowe  and  Cavalcaselle ;  Winckelmann's  "  History  of  Ancient 
Art  among  the  Greeks,"  and  Westropp's  "  Handbook  of  Archae- 
ology, —  Egyptian,  Greek,  Roman,  and  Etruscan,"  in  connec- 
tion with  the  first  portion  of  the  book. 

The  legends  of  place  have  been  principally  drawn  from  Ger- 
man literature.  Most  of  the  English  translations  of  these  le- 
gends that  come  within  the  reach  of  travellers,  are  the  work  of 


iv 


PREFACE. 


Germans,  and  so  imperfectly  rendered,  that  a  knowledge  of  their 
own  language  is  almost  necessary  in  order  to  comprehend  their 
English. 

The  mythological  portion  embraces  all  subjects  of  that  char- 
acter which  are  illustrated  in  painting  or  sculpture  in  the  gal- 
leries of  Rome,  Florence,  the  Louvre,  Munich,  Vienna,  Dresden, 
and  Berlin. 

The  illustrations  are  intended  as  a  key  or  guide  in  the  con- 
sideration of  their  subjects.  I  w^ould  call  attention  to  the  frontis- 
piece as  being  the  first  example,  so  far  as  I  am  able  to  learn, 
of  an  American  picture  in  any  work  connected  with  art. 

The  elegance  of  the  book  has  been  subordinated  to  the  desire 
to  make  it  compact  and  convenient  as  a  hand-book  in  travelling ; 
this  being  a  purpose  for  which  it  was  especially  written. 

C.  E.  C. 

Clement  Farm,  August  28,  1870. 


SYMBOLISM  m  AET. 


St.  Augustine  calls  the  repre- 
sentations of  art,  libri  idiotarum  " 
(the  books  of  the  simple),  and  there 
is  no  doubt  that  the  first  object  of 
Christian  art  was  to  teach  ;  and  the 
aim  of  the  artist  was  to  render  the 
truth  he  desired  to  present  without 
regard  to  the  beauty  of  the  rep- 
resentation ;  he  adhered  to  the 
actual,  and  gave  no  play  to  imagi- 
nation or  gestlietics.  But  later  in 
its  history,  this  art  has  been  in- 
fluenced by  legends  and  doctrines 
in  the  choice  of  subjects,  and 
these  have  been  variously  ren- 
dered, in  accordance  with  the  char- 
acter, the  aesthetic  cultivation,  and 
the  refinement  of  the  artist.  But 
from  its  infancy  to  the  present  time, 
there  have  been  certain  character- 
istic figures,  attributes  or  symbols, 
which  have  made  a  part  of  the  language  of  what  may  be  called 
Christian  Art.  These  are  meaningless,  or  worse,  perhaps  a  deformity 
to  the  eye  of  one  who  understands  them  not ;  but  they  add  much  to 
the  power  of  a  representation,  to  the  depth  of  sentiment  and  expres- 
sion when  rightly  apprehended.  These  symbols  are  used  in  two 
ways  :  to  express  a  general  fact  or  sentiment,  or  as  the  especial 
attribute  or  characteristic  of  the  person  represented.  My  present 
limits  allow  but  an  imperfect  and  superficial  consideration  of  this 
subject. 

I.  GENERAL  SYMBOLS. 

The  GloPwY,  Aureole,  and  Nimbus,  all  represent  light  or  bright- 
ness, and  are  the  symbols  of  sanctity.    The  nimbus  surrounds  the 
head ;  the  aureole  encircles  the  whole  body,  and  the  glory  is  the 
1 


2  SYMBOLISM  IN  ART, 

union  of  the  nimbus  and  aureole.  The  nimbus  belongs  to  all  holy 
persons  and  saints  as  well  as  to  the  representations  of  divinity.  The 
aureole,  strictly  speaking,  belongs  only  to  the  persons  of  the  God- 
head, but  the  Virgin  Mary  is  invested  with  it,  —  (1)  when  she 
holds  the  Saviour  in  her  arms  ;  (2)  in  pictures  of  the  Assumption ; 
(3)  when  she  is  represented  as  the  intercessor  for*  humanity  at 
the  last  judgment  ;  (4)  when  represented  as  the  Woman  of  the 
Apocalypse.  The  aureole  has  also  been  used  as  a  symbol  of  the 
apotheosis  of  holy  persons  ;  but  this  is  a  degeneration  from  its  orig- 
inal design  and  the  use  assigned  it  in  ancient  traditions.  The 
Glory  also  belongs  especially  to  God  and  the  Virgin.  The  oblong 
aureole  is  called  in  Latin,  vesica  piscis  ;  in  Italian,  the  mandorla : 
(almond).  The  cruciform  or  triangular  nimbus,  or  the  figure  of  a 
cross  in  the  nimbus,  belong  properly  to  the  persons  of  the  Trinity ; 
the  nimbus  of  saints  and  lesser  beings  should  be  circular.  A  square 
nimbus  is  used  for  persons  still  living  when  the  representation  was 
made ;  the  hexagonal  nimbus  for  allegorical  personages.  These 
symbols  did  not  appear  in  Christian  art  until  the  fifth  century,  and 
during  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries  they  disappeared.  They 
are,  however,  employed  in  the  present  day,  although  not  with  the 
careful  distinction  in  the  employment  of  the  various  forms  which 
characterized  their  earliest  use.  The  color  of  these  symbols  in 
painting  is  golden,  or  that  wdiich  represents  light ;  in  some  in- 
stances, in  miniatures,  or  on  glass,  they  are  of  various  colors. 
Didron  believes  these  to  be  symbolical,  but  is  not  sure  of  the  sig- 
nification of  the  colors. 

The  Fish.  A  fish,  most  frequently  a  dolphin,  was  the  earliest 
and  most  universal  of  the  Christian  symbols.  It  has  several  signifi- 
cations. The  Greek  word  for  fish,  IX0Y2,  is  composed  of  the  ini- 
tial letters  of  the  Greek  TTycjous  Xptcrros,  0eoS  Yto?,  ^,orrr;/;,  the  Latin 
translation  of  which  is,  Jesus  Christus  Dei  Jilius  Salvator  —  thus  form- 
ing the  anagram  of  the  name  of  Jesus  ;  and  these  characters  are  found 
in  many  ancient  inscriptions,  and  upon  works  of  art.  The  fish  is 
an  emblem  of  water  and  the  rite  of  baptism ;  of  the  vocation  of  the 
Christian  apostle,  or  "  fisher  of  men,"  especially  in  the  hands  of  St. 
Peter  and  others  who  were  eminently  successful  in  making  converts ; 
it  is  emblematic  of  Christians  generally,  they  being  likened  to  fish  in 
the  call  of  the  Apostles  (Matt.  iv.  19),  and  also  typified  by  the 
miraculous  draught  of  fishes  (John  xxi).  But  it  is  not  true  that  the 
fish  is  always  a  Christian  emblem ;  according  to  Didron  it  is  never 
met  as  such  in  Greek  art,  and  he  believes  that  this  emblem  on  the 
tombs  in  the  catacombs  at  Home,  signified  the  occupation  of  the 
person  buried  in  them. 

The  Cross  has  a  deeper  meaning  than  that  of  other  symbols  ; 
it  is  in  a  certain  sense  not  merely  the  instrument  of  the  sufferings 
of  Christ,  but  himself  suffering  —  "  uhi  crux  est  martyr  ibi."  In  Chris- 
tian iconography,  the  cross  holds  a  most  important  place.  Accord- 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


3 


ing  to  the  tradition  or  legend  of  the  True  Cross,  it  was  coexistent 
with  the  world,  and  will  appear  at  the  last  judgment.  Chosroes 
believed  that  in  possessing  the  cross  of  Christ  he  possessed  the  Sa- 
viour, and  so  it  was  enthroned  at  his  right  hand.  Tbus  in  early 
representations  of  the  three  persons  of  the  godhead  tbe  cross  without 
the  figure  was  considered  not  only  to  recall  Christ  to  the  mind  but 
actually  to  show  him.  There  are  four  differently  formed  crosses  : 
The  Latin  or  Roman  cross  (1) 
is  believed  to  be  like  that  on 
which  Christ  suffered,  and  is 
the  one  placed  in  the  hand  of 
a  saint.  This  cross  is  in  the 
form  of  a  man  with  the  arms 
extended ;  the  distance  from 
the  head  to  the  shoulders 
being  less  than  from  the 
shoulders  to  the  feet,  and  the 
length  of  the  arms  less  than 
that  of  the  whole  figure.  Tlie 
Greek  cross  (2)  has  four 
equal  branches.  The  cross  of 
Saint  Andrew  (3)  is  a  cross  saltier  or  an  X ;  and  the  Egyptian  or 
"  Tau  ''  cross  (4),  has  but  three  branches,  like  the  letter  T.  This 
last  is  also  called  St.  Anthony's  Cross,  because  <his  saint  is  repre- 
sented with  a  crutch  in  the  shape  of  the  Tau,''  and  it  is  embroid- 
ered on  his  vestments.  It  is  also  assigned  as  the  cross  of  the  Old  Tes- 
tament, and  the  brazen  serpent  is  represented  on  a  pole  with  this 
form.  The  Patriarchal  Cross  is  of  the  same  shape  as  the  Latin 
Cross,  but  has  two  horizontal  bars.  There  are  numerous  varieties 
of  the  Greek  and  Latin  crosses,  such  as  the  Maltese  Cross,  the  Cross 
of  Dorat  and  various  others  which  pertain  in  some  cases  to  certain 
localities.  The  cross  is  often  interlaced  or  combined  with  the  first 
two  letters  of  the  name  of  Christ  in  Greek.  This  monogram  itself  is 
called  the  Labarum,  or  the  Cross  of  Constantine,  this  being  the  form 
of  the  legendary  cross  which  he  saw  in  the  sky,  and  which  was  in- 
scribed, according  to  Eusebius,  EN  TOYTO  NIK  A,  "  Conquer  by 
this."  Frequently  when  the  cross  was  made  of  gold  or  silver,  the  five 
wounds  of  Christ  were  represented  by  inserting  in  it  as  many  car- 
buncles or  rubies,  there  being  one  in  the  centre  and  one  at  each 
extremity. 

The  Lamb  has  been  an  emblem  of  the  Saviour  from  the  earliest 
period  of  Christian  art.  It  was  the  type  of  Him  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment and  the  name  given  Him  by  St.  John  the  Baptist  (John  i.  28). 
When  standing,  bearing  the  cross  or  a  banner,  with  a  nimbus  about 
the  head,  it  is  the  Lamb  of  God,  and  is  frequently  inscribed,  Ecce 
Agnus  Dei.    The  Twelve  Apostles  are  represented  by  as  many  lambs, 


4 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


while  the  thirteenth,  the  symbol  of  Christ,  bears  the  cross  or  Las  a 
nimbus  about  the  head,  and  is  frequently  larger  than  the  others. 
The  lamb,  called  the  Apocalyptic  Lamb,  has  seven  horns  and  ^even 
eyes  (Rev.  v.  6).  The  lamb  is  also  a  general  symbol  of  modesty, 
purity,  and  innocence,  as  when  made  the  attribute  of  St.  Agnes. 

The  Lion  is  another  symbol  of  Christ,  the  "  Lion  of  Judah," 
and  is  sometimes  represented  with  a  cruciform  nimbus.  Accord- 
ing to  an  Eastern  tradition,  the  cub  of  the  lion  is  born  dead, 
and  is  licked  by  its  sire  until  it  comes  to  life  on  the  third  day. 
Hence  it  is  symbolical  of  the  resurrection.  It  is  given  to  St.  Jer- 
ome and  other  hermits  as  the  emblem  of  solitude  ;  to  those  who 
perished  in  the  amphitheatre  as  the  symbol  of  their  death  ;  and  is 
placed  at  the  feet  of  some  to  denote  their  courage  and  fortitude 
under  the  sufferings  of  martyrdom. 

The  Pelican,  who  tears  open  her  breast  to  feed  her  young  with 
her  blood,  is  the  emblem  of  our  redemption,  through  the  sufferings 
of  Christ.    It  often  surmounts  the  cross. 

The  Dragon  is  the  symbol  of  sin  and  paganism.  It  is  repre- 
sented as  conquered  by  Christianity,  as  in  the  legends  of  St.  Mar- 
garet, St.  Michael,  St.  George,  and  St.  Sylvester.  In  the  legend  of 
St.  Martha,  it  represents  a  flood  and  pestilence.  The  "jaws  ol' 
hell  "  are  represented  by  the  open  mouth  of  a  dragon  emitting  flames. 

The  Serpent,  another  emblem  of  sin,  is  sometimes  placed  be- 
neath the  feet  of  the  Virgin  ;  sometimes  twined  around  a  globe,  to 
indicate  the  power  of  sin  over  the  entire  world.  In  some  symbolic 
pictures  of  the  crucifixion  the  serpent  lies  dead  at  the  foot  of  the 
cross,  "  or,  if  alive,  looking  impotently  up  at  the  second  Adam  upon 
the  tree  of  our  salvation,  as  before,  according  to  art,  he  looked 
triumphantly  down  upon  our  first  parents,  from  the  tree  of  our  fall." 

The  Hind  or  Hart,  is  the  especial  attribute  of  St.  Eustace,  St. 
Procopius,  St.  Giles,  and  St.  Hubert.  It  was  made  the  symbol  of 
religious  aspiration  by  the  ^'  sweet  singer  of  Israel (Psalm  42),  and 
is  also  an  emblem  of  solitude  and  hermit  life. 

The  Unicorn.  This  fabulous  creature  was  said  to  be  able  to 
evade  all  pursuers  except  a  virgin  of  perfect  purity  in  heart,  mind, 
and  life.  It  is  only  given  as  an  attribute  to  the  Virgin  and  St.  Jus- 
tina,  and  is  the  emblem  of  female  chastity. 

The  Peacock  is  seen  on  tombs,  sarcophagi,  and  among  funereal 
emblems.  It  symbolizes  the  change  from  life  to  immortality.  It 
was  borrowed  from  pagan  art,  where  it  represented  the  apotheosis 
of  an  empress.  It  was  the  bird  of  Juno,  but  was  not  the  symbol  of 
pride  until  modern  times. 

The  Dove  is  the  emblem  of  the  soul  when  represented  as  is- 
suing from  the  mouth  of  the  dying ;  an  emblem  of  purity,  when 
given  to  the  Virgin  and  certain  female  saints ;  also  the  symbol  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  and  of  spiritual  inspiration.    It  symbolizes  the  divine 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


5 


spirit  when  it  hovers  over  holy  men,  as  the  emblem  of  their  heaven- 
sent inspiration  ;  and  is  seen  in  pictures  of  the  baptism  of  Christ, 
the  Pentecost  and  the  Annunciation. 

The  Olive  as  the  emblem  of  peace,  is  given  to  the  Archangel 
Gabriel,  and  to  some  saints.  It  is  seen  upon  the  tombs  of  martyrs, 
and  is  sometimes  borne  by  the  an- 
gels who  announce  the  nativity. 

The  Palm.  The  use  of  the  palm 
as  the  symbol  of  martyrdom  is  au- 
thorized by  Scripture  (Rev.  vii.  9). 
It  belongs  to  all  the  "  noble  army 
of  martyrs."  It  is  placed  in  their 
hands  and  carved  on  their  tombs. 
It  is  sometimes  brought  to  them  by 
angels  as  if  from  heaven  itself.  It 
is  very  much  varied  in  form  and 
size. 

The  Lily  wherever  seen,  has  but 
one  signification,  which  is  chastity 
and  purity.  It  belongs  especially  to 
pictures  of  the  Annunciation  and  to 
St.  Joseph,  whose  rod  was  said  to 
put  forth  lilies. 

Fruit  or  Flowers,  although 
frequently  employed  merely  as  orna- 
ments, have  under  certain  circum- 
stances different  significations.  As  the  apple  is  an  emblem  of  the 
fall  in  Paradise,  in  many  pictures,  so  when  presented  to  the  infant 
Saviour,  or  in  his  hand,  it  signifies  redemption.  Hoses  are  illustra- 
tive of  the  legends  of  St.  Elizabeth  of  Hungary,  St.  Cecilia,  and  St. 
Dorothea,  and  a  type  of  the  Virgin  as  the  "  Rose  of  Sharon."  A 
bursting  pomegranate,  is  the  symbol  of  a  hopeful  future.  Any  fruit 
in  the  hand  of  St.  Catherine  is  a  symbol  of  "  the  fruit  of  the  spirit." 

The  Lamp,  Lantern,  or  Taper  is  most  frequently  the  sym- 
bol of  piety.  But  the  lamp  as  the  attribute  of  St.  Lucia,  signifies 
heavenly  wisdom,  or  spiritual  light. 

Fire  and  Flames  are  emblems  of  zeal  and  fervor  of  soul,  or 
of  the  sufferings  of  martyrdom. 

The  Flaming  Heart,  is  symbolical  of  fervent  piety  and  spirit- 
ual love. 

The  Crown,  when  on  the  head  of  the  Madonna,  makes  her  the 
queen  of  Heaven  and  Regina  Angelorum. 
When  the  attribute  of  a  martyr,  it  signifies 
the  victory  over  sin  and  death,  or  denotes 
that  the  saint  was  of  royal  blood  ;  in  the 
latter  case  it  is  usually  placed  at  the  feet. 


G 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


Among  the  Jews  the  crown    was  the  ornament  of  a  bride,  and  to 
the  present  time  it  is  placed  on  the  head  of  a 
nun  when  consecrated  as  the  Bride  of  Christ. 
For  this  reason  it  is  more  frequently  seen  on  the 
heads  of  female  saints,  while  those  of  the  other 
sex  hold  it  in  the  hand.    It  is  sometimes  a  mere 
circlet ;  often  a  chaplet  of  flowers,  and  again  it 
is  magnificent  with  gold  and  precious  jewels. 
The    Sword,  Axe,  Lance,  and  Club  are  all  symbols  of 
martyrdom,  and  are  the  attributes  of  certain  saints,  and  signify  the 
manner  of  death  they  suffered.     The  sword  is  also  an  attribute 
of  the  warrior  faints,   and  sometimes  is  an  euiblem  of  a  violent 
death,  without  being  the  instrument  employed. 
The  Skull  and  Scourge  symbolize  penance. 
The  Shell,  pilgrimage. 

The  Bell  was  believed  to  exorcise  evil  spirits. 
The  Anvil  is  the  attribute  of  St.  Adrian,  and  is  the  symbol  of 
his  death. 

The  Arrow  is  the  attribute  of  St.  Sebastian,  St.  Ursula,  and  St. 
Christina. 

The  Poniard,  of  St.  Lucia. 

The  Cauldron,  of  St.  Cecilia  and  St.  John  the  Evangelist. 
The  Shears  and  Pincers,  of  St.  Agatha  and  St.  Apollonia. 
The  Wheels,  of  St.  Catherine. 

The  Standard,  or  Banner,  is  the  symbol  of  victory.  It  belongs 
to  the  military  saints,  and  to  those  who  carried  the  gospel  to  hea- 
then lands.  It  is  borne  by  Christ  after  the  resurrection.  St.  Rep- 
arata  and  St.  Ursula  are  the  only  female  saints  to  whom  it  is  given. 

The  Chalice  is  the  emblem  of  faith  and  is  an  attribute  of  St. 
Barbara.    With  a  serpent,  it  is  that  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist. 

The  Book,  in  the  hand  of  St.  Stephen,  is  the  Old  Testament ; 
in  the  hands  of  the  evangelists  it  represents  their  own  writings.  In 
other  cases  it  is  the  Scriptures,  or  the  symbol  of  the  learning  and 
writings  of  the  saint  who  bears  it. 

The  Church,  in  the  hand  of  St.  Jerome,  is  the  symbol  of  his  love 
and  care  for  the  whole  Christian  Church.  In  other  cases  it  is  gen- 
erally the  model  of  some  particular  church,  and  the  saint  who  bears 
it  was  its  founder  or  first  bishop. 

The  Ship.  In  early  times  the  ark  was  the  symbol  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  but  later  any  ship  has  had  this  significance.  The  boat 
of  St.  Peter,  tempest- tossed  and  guided  by  Christ,  is  symbolical  of 
his  watchful  care  of  his  church. 

The  Anchor  is  one  of  the  earhest  Christian  symbols.  It  is  seen 
in  the  catacombs  and  on  very  ancient  gems.  It  is  the  emblem  of 
immovable  hope  and  untiring  patience.  It  is  an  attribute  of  some 
saints  in  illustration  of  their  legends,  as  in  the  case  of  St.  Clement. 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


7 


The  Symbols  of  the  Passion  and  Crucifixion  are  numer- 
ous, and  although  rarely  seen  in  the  catacombs  and  in  early  sculp- 
ture, they  are  constantly  found  in  churches.  They  are,  the  two 
swords  of  the  apostles,  the  ear  of  Malchus,  St.  Peter's  sword,  the 
pillar  and  cord,  the  scourge,  the  crown  of  thorns,  the  three  dice, 
the  spear,  the  sponge,  the  nails,  the  cross,  the  thirty  pieces  of  sil- 
ver, the  hammer  and  pincers,  the  ladder,  the  lantern,  the  boxes  of 
spice  for  embalming,  the  seamless  garment,  the  purse  and  the  cock  : 
the  five  wounds  are  represented  by  the  hands  and  feet  with  a  heart 
in  the  centre,  each  pierced  with  one  wound,  or  by  a  heart  alone 
with  five  wounds. 

Ears  of  Corn  and  Bunches  of  Grapes  were  symbols  of  the 
bread  and  wine  of  the  Holy  Eucharist ;  while  the  representations 
of  the  labors  of  the  vintage  were  typical  of  those  of  Christians  in 
the  vineyard  of  the  Lord ;  the  vine  and  vine  leaf  was  an  emblem 
of  the  Saviour,  the  true  vine. 

The  Candelabrum  was  an  emblem  of  Christ  and  his  Church, 
the  light  of  the  world.  With  seven  branches  it  refers  to  the  seven 
gifts  of  the  Spirit,  or  to  the  seven  churches  (Rev.  i.  20) 

Little  Naked  Bodies  are  the  symbols  of  the  souls  of  men, 
and  are  seen  in  pictures  of  St.  Michael  when  he  is  represented  as 
the  Lord  of  souls.  They  are  also  placed  in  the  hand  which  sym- 
bolizes God  the  Father. 

II.   SYMBOLISM  OF  COLORS. 

In  ancient  art  each  color  had  a  mystic  sense  or  symbolism,  and 
its  proper  use  was  an  important  consideration,  and  carefully 
studied. 

White  is  worn  by  the  Saviour  after  his  resurrection ;  by  the 
Virgin  in  representations  of  the  Assumption ;  by  women  as  the  em- 
blem of  chastity ;  by  rich  men  to  indicate  humility,  and  by  the 
judge  as  the  symbol  of  integrity.  It  is  represented  sometimes  by 
silver  or  the  diamond,  and  its  sentiment  is  purity,  virginity,  inno- 
cence, faith,  joy,  and  light. 

Red,  the  color  of  the  ruby,  speaks  of  royalty,  fire,  divine  love, 
the  holy  spirit,  creative  power,  and  heat.  In  an  opposite  sense  it 
symbolized  blood,  war,  and  hatred.  Red  and  black  combined  were 
the  colors  of  Satan,  purgatory,  and  evil  spirits.  Red  and  white  roses 
are  emblems  of  love  and  innocence,  or  love  and  wisdom,  as  in  the 
garland  of  St.  Cecilia. 

Blue,  that  of  the  sapphire,  signified  heaven,  heavenly  love  and 
truth,  constancy  and  fidelity.  Christ  and  the  Virgin  Mary  wear 
the  blue  mantle,  St.  John  a  blue  tunic. 

Green,  the  emerald,  the  color  of  spring,  expressed  hope  and 
victory. 


8 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


Yellow  or  Gold  was  the  emblem  of  the  sun,  the  goodness  of 
God,  marriage  and  fruitfulness.  St.  Joseph  and  St.  Peter  wear 
yellow.  Yellow  has  also  a  bad  signification  when  it  has  a  dirty, 
dingy  hue,  such  as  the  usual  dress  of  Judas,  and  then  signifies  jeal- 
ousy, inconstancy,  and  deceit. 

Violet  or  Amethyst  signified  passion  and  suffering,  or  love 
and  truth.  Penitents,  as  the  Magdalene,  wear  it.  The  Madonna 
wears  it  after  the  crucifixion,  and  Christ  after  the  resurrection. 

Gray  is  the  color  of  penance,  mourning,  humility,  or  accused 
innocence. 

Black  with  white  signified  humility,  mourning  and  purity  of  life. 
Alone,  it  spoke  of  darkness,  wickedness,  and  death,  and  belonged  to 
Satan.  In  pictures  of  the  Temptation,  Jesus  sometimes  wears 
black. 

III.    SYMBOLS  OF  GOD  THE  FATHER. 

Before  the  twelfth  century  there  were  no  portraits  of  God  the 
Father,  and  the  symbol  used  to  indicate  his  presence  was  a  hand 
issuing  from  the  clouds.  This  hand  when  entirely  open  is  in  the 
act  of  bestowing  and  has  rays  from  each  finger.  It  was  generally 
represented  in  the  act  of  benediction,  and  the  position  showed 
whether  it  belonged  to  eastern  or  western,  or  to  Greek  or  Latin 
art,  for  the  benedictory  gesture  differs  in  the  two  churches.  "  In  the 
Greek  Church  it  is  performed  with  the  forefinger  entirely  open,  the 
middle  finger  slightly  bent,  the  thumb  crossed  upon  the  third  fin- 
ger, and  the  little  finger  bent.  This  movement  and  position  of  the 
five  fingers,  form  more  or  less  perfectly  the  monogram  of  the  Son 
of  God."  The  Latin  benediction  is  given  with  the  third  and  little 
fingers  closed,  the  thumb  and  the  other  two  fingers  remaining  open 
and  straight.  This  is  said  to  symbolize  the  three  persons  of  the 
Trinity  by  the  open  fingers,  and  the  two  natures  of  Christ  by  the 
closed.  The  hand  is  frequently  surrounded  by  the  cruciform 
nimbus,  which  in  the  early  centuries  was  given  to  God  alone.  The 
hand  is  most  frequently  seen  in  pictures  of  the  Baptism  of  Christ; 
the  Agony  in  the  Garden ;  in  the  Crucifixion,  where  it  is  placed  on  the 
summit  of  the  cross  in  the  act  of  benediction ;  and  when  Jesus  is 
represented  as  reascending  to  heaven  after  his  death,  bearing  the 
cross  in  his  hand,  the  right  hand  of  the  Father  is  extended  to  him 
as  if  "  in  a  manner  to  assist  him  to  rise."  In  another  representa- 
tion of  the  hand  of  God  it  is  filled  with  little  naked  figures  whose 
hands  are  joined  as  if  in  prayer.  These  are  the  souls  of  the  right- 
eous who  have  returned  to  God. 

The  next  symbol  of  the  Father  was  a  face  in  the  clouds,  then  a 
bust ;  and  gradually  by  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century  a  figure 
and  distinct  characteristics  represented  the  first  person  of  the  God- 
head.   In  the  beginning  there  was  little  or  no  distinction  between 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


9 


the  representations  of  the  Father  and  Son ;  but  gradually  the 
Father  was  made  older,  while  the  place  of  honor,  the  royal  crown 
on  his  head  and  the  globe  in  his  hand,  indicated  a  superior  dignity 
and  consideration.  From  this  time  to  that  of  the  Renaissance, 
however,  the  representations  of  God  were  but  little  more  than  those 
of  a  pope  or  king  ;  the  triple  tiara  was  indeed  increased  by  the  ad- 
dition of  two  more  crowns,  and  when  in  the  garments  of  a  king  a 
nimbus  encircled  the  crown.  With  the  esthetic  genius  and  prog- 
ress of  the  Renaissance,  with  Michael  Angelo,  Perugino,  and  Ra- 
phael, came  representations  of  God  that  more  satisfactorily  embody 
that  mental  conception  which  can  never  be  embodied,  —  the  concep- 
tion of  God,  of  Jehovah,  the  Creator  and  Ancient  of  days.  But  at 
length  it  came  to  be  remembered  that  no  personal  representation  of 
the  Father  should  ever  be  made.  No  man  hath  seen  or  can  see 
Him  ;  and  Jesus  being  the  Word,  was  the  speech  of  God  and  was  the 
fitting  representation  of  the  Father  whenever  he  had  spoken.  Since 
the  sixteenth  century  the  Father  has  been  symbolized  by  the  tri- 
angle, which  is  his  linear  emblem,  or  some  other  geometrical  figure 
inscribed  with  his  name,  and  surrounded  with  rays  of  light.  This 
radiating  circle  is  itself  an  emblem  of  eternity.  Sometimes  a  flood 
or  blaze  of  light  alone  is  the  symbol  of  the  "  appearance  of  bright- 
ness "  which  the  prophet  describes  (Ezek.  viii.  2),  but  the  triangle 
became  extremely  popular  on  account  of  the  ideas  or  teaching 
which  it  embodied.  Here  the  Father,  represented  by  his  name,  in 
Hebrew,  occupied  the  centre  of  the  triangle  which  symbolized  the 
Trinity,  and  all  was  contained  in  the  circle  of  Eternity. 

This  abstruse  symbol  is  often  seen  in  the  decorations  of  the 
churches  of  the  present  day  and  upon  the  vestments  of  bishops. 

IV.    SYMBOLS  OF  GOD  THE  SON. 

The  usual  symbols  of  Christ  have  been  mentioned  under  the 
head  of  general  symbols,  for  they  are  capable  of  various  significa- 
tions and  are  employed  as  attributes  of  saints  or  to  denote  their 
characteristics.  They  are  the*  glory,  aureole,  or  nimbus,  the  fish, 
cross,  lamb,  and  lion.  The  traditions  of  the  earliest  portraits  of 
Christ  will  be  found  by  referring  to  the  legends  of  King  Abgarus 
and  St.  Veronica.  From  the  beginning  of  Christian  art  f  hrist  has 
been  represented  by  portraits  rather  than  symbols,  and  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  render  them  quite  unmistakable.  In  the  earliest  rep- 
resentations of  the  crucifixion,  it  was  surrounded  with  various  sym- 
bols, and  the  aim  of  the  artists  who  painted  them  was  to  portray 
the  mysterious  death  which  convulsed  nature,  raised  the  dead,  and 
wrought  mighty  miracles,  rather  than  the  mere  physical  sufferings 
and  human  death  which  later  art  presents. 

Among  the  symbols  thus  used  were  the  sun  and  moon,  represented 


10 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


by  the  classic  figures  of  Sol  and  Luna,  with  the  rays  and  crescent, 
or  seated  in  their  orbs  surrounded  with  clouds,  with  tlieir  right 
hands  raised  to  the  cheek,  an  ancient  sign  of  sorrow.  Again,  they 
bore  torches  reversed.  Figures  are  seen  rising  from  tombs  and 
from  the  Avater,  showing  that  the  dead  shall  rise  from  sea  and  land. 
Earth  and  Ocean  are  also  symbolized.  In  one  ancient  ivory,  Earth 
is  half  nude  and  sits  beside  a  tree ;  in  one  hand  she  holds  a  cornu- 
copia, the  symbol  of  abundance,  while  a  serpent  nurses  at  her 
breast,  the  emblem  of  life  nourished  by  the  earth.  The  ocean  is  as  a 
river-god,  riding  on  a  dolphin,  or  holding  a  subverted  urn,  from 
which  the  Avater  pours  forth.  The  church  and  the  synagogue  are 
typified  by  females  ;  the  one  on  the  right  or  place  of  honor,  the 
church,  holds  a  banner  and  gazes  up  at  the  Saviour,  while  on  the 
left  the  synagogue  turns  her  back  as  if  rebellious.  The  Virgin  and 
St.  John  are  ever  present  at  the  crucifixion  from  earliest  to  latest 
time.  Their  hands  are  often  raised  to  the  cheek  in  token  of  afflic- 
tion, and  the  disciple  bears  the  Gospel  in  his  hand.  Angels  some- 
times hold  a  crown  above  the  head  of  Christ,  or  hang  from  the 
cross  in  attitudes  of  anguish.  The  presence  of  the  Father  is  shown 
by  the  hand  before  described,  which  holds  the  crown,  or  is  in  the 
act  of  blessing.  Other  symbols  are  the  serpent  twined  about  the 
foot  of  the  cross  ;  the  pelican  tearing  her  breast  to  feed  her  young, 
an  emblem  of  redemption ;  a  female  figure  crowned  with  towers 
supposed  to  represent  Jerusalem ;  a  skull  symbolizes  Adam  ;  the 
sacrifice  of  a  heifer  typifies  the  Jewish  rites  ;  and  sometimes  the 
Evangelists  are  represented  writing  their  Gospels  while  their  winged 
symbols  whisper  in  their  ears.  These  are  the  most  important  ac- 
cessories of  the  symbolical  representations  of  the  Crucifixion ;  the 
historical  easily  explain  themselves.  In  many  ancient  crucifixions 
the  figure  of  Christ  is  clothed  in  a  robe.  Some  had  a  drapery  from 
the  hips  to  the  knees.  The  draped  figures  are  mostly  if  not  all  of  ' 
Byzantine  origin,  and  there  is  a  legend  which  is  given  as  a  reason 
for  this  mode  of  representation  :  "  A  priest,  who  had  exhibited  to 
the  people  a  figure  of  Christ  only  cinctured  with  a  cloth,  was  visited 
by  an  apparition  which  said,  '  All  yt?  go  covered  with  various  rai- 
ment, and  me  ye  show  naked.  Go  forthwith  and  cover  me  with 
clothing/  The  priest  not  understanding  what  was  meant,  took  no 
notice,  and  on  the  third  day  the  vision  appeared  again,  and  having 
scourged  him  severely  with  rods,  said,  '  Have  I  not  told  you  to 
cover  me  with  garments  ?  Go  now  and  cover  with  clothing  the 
picture  in  which  I  appear  crucified.'  " 


V.    SYMBOLS  OF  THE  HOLY  GHOST. 

From  the  sixth  century  to  the  present  time,  the  dove  has  been 
the  constant  and  universal  symbol  of  the  Holy  Ghost.    It  appears 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


11 


in  illustrations  of  the  Scripture  scenes,  in  which  the  Holy  Spirit  is 
mentioned  from  the  "  moving  upon  the  face  of  the  waters  to  the 
Day  of  Pentecost.  There  are  also  many  representations  of  his  ap- 
pearance in  historical  scenes,  and  in  others  which  are  partly  or 
wholly  legendary.  The  dove  is  often  present  at  the  Nativity  and 
the  Annunciation  ;  it  issues  from  the  rod  of  Joseph,  thus  designat- 
ing him  to  be  the  spouse  of  the  Virgin  ;  it  hovers  above  the  heads 
of  holy  men  and  saints,  showing  that  their  inspiration  is  heaven 
sent,  —  among  which  are  David,  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  St.  Jerome, 
St.  Theresa,  and  others.  Another  representation,  intensely  symbol- 
ical, is  that  of  the  Saviour  surrounded  by  seven  doves ;  they  are  of 
snowy  whiteness,  and  have  the  cruciform  nimbus ;  they  are  emblems 
of  the  seven  gifts  of  the  Spirit  with  which  Christ  was  endowed  : 
wisdom,  understanding,  counsel,  strength,  knowledge,  piety,  and  fear 
(Isaiah  xi.).  These  doves  are  frequently  placed  with  three  on  each 
side  and  one  at  the  top,  thus  forming  a  kind  of  aureole.  It  may 
not  be  out  of  place  to  observe  that  during  the  Middle  Ages,  seven 
was  esteemed  a  sacred  number.  There  were  seven  gifts  of  the  Holy 
Ghost ;  seven  sacraments ;  seven  planets ;  seven  days  in  the  week ; 
seven  branches  on  the  candlestick  of  Moses ;  seven  liberal  arts  ; 
seven  churches  of  Asia ;  seven  mysterious  seals ;  seven  stars  and 
seven  symbolic  trumpets  ;  seven  heads  of  the  Dragon  ;  seven  joys 
and  seven  sorrows  of  the  Virgin ;  seven  penitential  psalms  ;  seven 
deadly  sins ;  seven  canonical  hours  ;  and  Mohammed  says  in  the 
Koran,  that  "  God  visited  the  skies,  and  formed  there  seven  heav- 
ens "  (Koran  ii.  27).  Some  cathedrals  have  seven  chapels,  as 
those  at  Rheims  and  Chartres.  During  the  tenth  century,  the  Holy 
Ghost  was  sometimes  represented  as  a  man ;  but  this  representation 
was  never  received  with  as  much  favor  as  the  other.  He  was  made 
of  every  age,  from  the  earliest  to  the  latest  years  of  life.  As  a 
little  child,  he  floated  on  the  waters  ;  as  a  young  child  he  was  in  the 
arms  of  the  Father  ;  his  age  is  according  to  the  fancy  of  the  artist, 
or  the  supposed  requirements  of  the  representation.  Among  the 
legendary  pictures  in  which  he  was  thus  represented,  is  that  of  the 
reception  of  Christ  in  heaven,  after  his  earthly  mission  was  ended ; 
the  Holy  Ghost  is  seated  by  the  Father,  and  has  a  book,  expressive 
of  intelligence.  He  blesses  Jesus,  as  does  the  Father  ;  he  also 
assists  at  the  coronation  of  the  Virgin.  In  some  instances,  the  two 
representations  of  the  Holy  Ghost  were  combined,  by  the  figure  of 
a  man  with  a  dove  on  his  head  or  hand.  Still  another  symbol  is 
that  of  a  dove  from  which  emanate  rays  of  light,  spreading  out  in 
every  direction,  forming  a  radiating  aureole  about  it.  The  dove  is 
also  one  of  the  general  symbols  of  art,  and  as  such  is  emblematical 
of  purity  and  innocence,  which  signification  was  made  most  em- 
phatic, by  its  use  as  the  sacrifice  for  purification,  under  the  Jewish 
law.  As  before  mentioned,  it  is  the  attribute  of  certain  female  saints, 
denoting  chastity  and  purity. 


12 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


VL    SYMBOLS  OF  THE  TRINITY. 

Representations  of  the  mystical  Three  in  One  were  employed  in 
art  from  its  earliest  ages.  It  was  symbolized  by  the  combination  of 
three  triangles,  three  circles,  three  fishes,  and  many  other  represen- 
tations more  obscure  in  their  meanings.  In  later  art,  the  three  per- 
sons of  the  Trinity  have  been  represented  by  three  human  figures, 
each  with  its  special  attribute,  that  of  the  Holy  Ghost  being  the 
dove.  Another  mode  represents  the  Father  and  Son  with  the 
dove  between  them  ;  in  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries,  the 
dove  was  often  seen  hovering  between  the  first  and  second  persons 
of  the  Trinity,  with  the  tips  of  the  wings  touching  the  lips  of  each. 
This  representation  is  called  the  double  procession  of  the  Spirit ;  illus- 
trative of  the  sentence  of  the  Nicene  Creed,  "  proceeding  from  the 
Father  and  the  Son."  This  representation  belongs  to  the  Latin 
Church.  In  these  representations,  when  the  locality  is  heaven,  the 
figures  are  always  seated.  There  is  a  device  called  the  Italian  Trin- 
ity, which  was  popular  from  the  twelfth  to  the  seventeenth  century. 
In  this  the  Father  holds  a  crucifix  by  the  ends  of  the  transverse 
beam,  the  figure  of  Christ  hanging  between  his  knees  ;  the  dove 
proceeds  downwards  from  the  lips  of  tlie  Father,  and  touches  the 
head  of  the  Son,  or  is  merely  sitting  on  the  cross.  Some  attempts 
have  been  made  to  embody  this  mystery,  by  the  representation  of  a 
body  with  three  heads,  or  a  head  with  three  faces,  but  they  are  only 
frightful  and  monstrous. 

VII.    SYMBOLS  OF  ANGELS. 

According  to  Dionysius,  the  Areopagite,  there  are  three  divisions 
of  angels,  and  these  each  divided  into  three  classes  or  choirs,  mak- 
ing nine  in  all. 

1.  Councillors  of  God,  consisting  of — 

1.  The  Seraphim,  represented  as  covered  with  eyes. 

2.  The  Cherubim,  represenied  with  six  wings,  and  usually 
standing  on  wheels,  according  to  the  description  of  Ezekiel.  Some- 
times they  have  an  open  book.  These  two  orders  stand  always  be- 
fore God,  praising  and  adoring  Him. 

3.  Thrones  are  represented  carrying  a  throne  or  tower,  and 
their  duty  is  to  support  the  throne  of  God. 

11.  Governors.  —  These  rule  the  stars,  and  regulate  the  uni- 
verse. 

4.  Dominations,  represented  with  a  sword,  a  triple  crown  and 
sceptre^  or  an  orb  and  cross. 

5.  Virtues.  —  These  carry  a  battle-axe  and  pennon  or  a  crown 
and  censer,  and  are  in  complete  armor. 

6.  Powers.  —  These  hold  a  baton,  or  are  in  the  act  of  scourging 
or  chaining  evil  spirits. 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


13 


III  Messengers  of  God. 

7.  Princedoms  or  Principalities.  —  These  are  in  armor,  with 
pennons,  or  holding  a  lily. 

8.  Archangels.  —  These  are  seven  in  number,  but  the  first  three 
are  those  represented  in  art,  and  rarely  the  fourth.     They  are  — 

I.  Michael  (like  unto  God),  captain-general  of  the  host  of 
Heaven,  protector  of  the  Hebrew  nation,  conqueror  of  the  hosts 
of  Hell ;  lord  and  guardian  of  souls,  patron  saint  and  prince  of 
the  Church  Militant. 

II.  Gabriel  (God  is  my  strength),  guardian  of  the  celestial 
treasury,  the  bearer  of  important  messages,  the  angel  of  the  annun- 
ciation, the  preceptor  of  the  patriarch  Joseph. 

HI.  E,aphae:l  (the  medicine  of  God),  the  chief  of  guardian 
angels,  the  conductor  of  the  young  Tobias. 

lY.  Uriel  (the  Light  of  God),  the  regent  of  the  sun,  the  teacher 
of  Esdras. 

Y.  Chamuel  (one  who  sees  God)  is  believed  by  some  to  be  the 
one  who  wrestled  with  Jacob,  and  appeared  to  Christ  during  his 
agony  in  the  garden  ;  but  others  believe  that  this  was  Gabriel. 

YI.  Jophiel  (the  beauty  of  God),  the  guardian  of  the  tree  of  knowl- 
edge, and  the  one  who  drove  Adam  and  Eve  from  the  Garden  of 
Eden,  the  protector  of  those  who  seek  truth,  the  preceptor  of  the 
sons  of  Noah,  the  enemy  of  all  who  pursue  vain  knowledge. 

YH.  Z  AD  KIEL  (the  righteousness  of  God),  according  to  some 
authorities  he  stayed  the  hand  of  Abraham  from  sacrificing  Isaac, 
but  others  believe  that  this  was  done  by  Michael. 

The  attributes  of  Michael  are  the  sword  and  scales ;  of  Gabriel, 
the  lily ;  of  Raphael,  the  staff  and  gourd  of  the  pilgrim ;  of  Uriel, 
a  roll  and  book ;  of  Chamuel,  a  cup  and  staff ;  of  Jophiel,  a  flaming 
sword,  and  of  Zadkiel,  the  sacrificial  knife.  When  represented 
merely  as  archangels  and  not  in  their  distinctive  characters,  they  are 
in  complete  armor,  holding  their  swords  with  points  upwards,  and 
sometimes  with  trumpets. 

9.  Angels.  —  Yariously  represented  acccording  to  the  purpose 
for  which  they  are  sent  forth.  The  first  great  division  of  angels  re- 
main about  the  throne  of  God,  and  reflect  the  light  and  glory  derived 
from  Him  upon  the  second  division,  who  again  reflect  it  upon  the 
third  division,  who  are  the  messengers  of  God  and  the  guardians  of 
mankind. 

The  Greek  word  for  angel  signifies  literally  "  a  bringer  of  tid- 
ings," therefore  this  term,  though  applied  to  all  heavenly  beings 
below  the  Godhead,  belongs  most  properly  to  archangels  and  angels 
who  are  brought  into  communication  with  mankind.  When  Christ 
is  represented  with  wings  in  Greek  art,  it  is  as  "the  great  angel  of 
the  will  of  God."  John  the  Baptist  and  the  Evangelists,  are  angels, 
also,  inasmuch  as  they  were  God's  messengers,  and  they  are  sometimes 


14 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


represented  with  wings.  A  glory  of  angels  is  a  representation  in 
which  the  Trinity,  Christ,  or  the  Virgin,  are  surrounded  by  circles 
of  angels,  representing  the  different  choirs.  The  interior  circles,  the 
Seraphim  and  Cherubim,  are  symbolized  by  heads  with  two,  four, 
or  six  wings,  and  are  usually  of  a  bright  red  or  blue  color.  Properly 
the  Seraph,  whose  name  signifies  to  love,  should  be  red,  and  the 
Cherub,  whose  name  signifies  to  know,  should  be  blue.  Angels 
should  always  be  young,  beautiful,  perfect,  but  so  represented  as  to 
seem  immortal  rather  than  eternal,  since  they  are  created  beings. 
In  early  art,  they  were  always  draped,  and  although  all  colors  are 
employed  in  the  drapery,  white  should  be  the  prevailing  one.  Wings 
are  seldom  wanting,  and  the  representation  of  them  as  the  attribute 
of  celestial  beings,  did  not  originate  in  Christian  art.  This  symbol 
of  might,  majesty,  and  divine  beauty,  is  found  in  the  remains  of 
Egypt,  Babylon,  and  Nineveh,  as  well  as  in  Etruscan  art. 

VIII.    SYMBOLS  OF  THE  VIRGIN. 

Among  the  symbols  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  the  titles  by  which 
she  is  known,  and  from  which  certain  pictures  and  effigies  are 
named,  are  by  no  means  the  least  interesting,  showing  as  they  do 
the  estimation  in  which  she  is  held,  and  the  tenderness,  as  well  as 
sacredness  of  the  love  she  engenders  in  the  hearts  of  her  faithful 
worshippers.  As  the  protector  of  the  afflicted  she  is  represented 
with  her  robe  so  spread  out  as  to  cover  the  votaries  who  pray  for  her 
gracious  aid.    In  this  character  she  has  several  titles,  such  as,  — 

Santa  Maria  di  Miserlcordia,  Our  Lady  of  Mercy  ;  and  by  this 
title,  ^'  Nuestra  Senora  de  la  Merced/*  she  is  known  as  the  patron- 
ess of  the  Spanish  Order  of  Mercy.  When  painted  for  their  insti- 
tutions, she  frequently  holds  a  badge  of  the  Order  on  a  tablet. 

Santa  Maria  del  buon  Consilio,  Oar  Lady  of  Good  Counsel. 

S.  M.  della  Grazia,  Our  Lady  of  Grace. 

S.  M.  Auxilium  Afflictorum,  Help  of  the  Afflicted. 

S.  M.  del  Pianto,  del  Dolore,  Our  Lady  of  Lamentation  or  Sorrow. 

S.  M.  del  Soccorro,  Our  Lady  of  Succour,  or  of  the  Forsaken. 

S.  M.  de  buon  Core,  Our  Lady  of  Good  Heart. 

S.  M.  Consolatrice,  della  Consolazione,  or  del  Conforto.  Our  I^ady 
of  Consolation. 

S.  M.  Befugium  Peccatorum,  Befuge  of  Sinners. 

S.  M.  della  Speranza,  Our  Lady  of  Hope. 

She  is  invoked  by  women  in  travail  as,  — 

S.  M.  del  Parto,  Our  Lady  of  Good  Delivery. 

Again,  by  the  people  as,  — 

S.  M.  della  Pace,  Our  Lady  of  Peace. 

S.  M.  del  Popolo,  Our  Lady  of  the  People. 

S.  M.  della  Vittoria,  Our  Lady  of  Victory. 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


15 


By  students  she  is  invoked  as,  — 
S.  M.  della  Sapienza,  Our  Lady  of  Wisdom. 
S.  M.  della  Perseveranza,  Our  Lady  of  Perseverance. 
When  painted  for  colleges  and  institutions  of  learning,  she  fre- 
quently holds  a  book. 

By  prisoners  she  is  called,  — 

S.  M.  della  Liberta,  or  Liberatrice,  Our  Lady  of  Liberty. 
S.  M.  della  Catena,  Our  Lady  of  Fetters. 

There  are  also  many  titles  derived  from  the  circumstances  of  her 
life,  or  from  certain  accessories  of  the  representation,  as,  — 

S.  M.  della  Cintola,  Our  Lady  of  the  Girdle,  when  she  gives  her 
girdle  to  St.  Thomas. 

S.  M.  dell  Libro,  when  she  holds  the  book  of  Wisdom. 

S.  M.  del  Presepio,  Our  Lady  of  the  Cradle,  when  in  a  Nativity. 

S.  M.  della  Lettera,  the  Madonna  of  the  Letter,  which  illustrates 
the  legend  that  she  wrote  a  letter,  a.  d.  42,  from  Jerusalem  to  the 
people  of  Messina.    This  is  her  title  as  protectress  of  that  city. 

S.  M.  della  Scodella,  when  with  a  cup  she  dips  water  from  a  foun- 
tain. 

S.  M.  della  Bosa,  Our  Lady  of  the  Bose,  when  she  holds  a  rose. 

S.  M.  della  Spina ;  this  is  her  title  as  protectress  of  Pisa,  when 
she  holds  the  crown  of  thorns. 

S.  M.  de  Belem,  Our  Lady  of  Bethlehem.  With  this  title  she  is 
the  patroness  of  the  Jeronymites. 

S.  M.  di  Loretto,  Our  Lady  of  Loretto.  See  legend  of  the 
Santa  Casa. 

S.  M.  del  Pillar  ;  this  is  her  title  as  protectress  of  Saragossa. 
According  to  the  tradition,  she  descended  from  heaven,  standing  on 
a  marble  pillar,  and  appeared  to  St.  James  when  he  was  preaching 
in  Spain.  This  legend  is  often  seen  in  Spanish  pictures,  and  the 
pillar  is  preserved  in  the  cathedral  of  Saragossa. 

S.  M.  del  Carmine,  Our  Lady  of  Mount  Carmel,  under  which 
title  she  is  the  protectress  of  the  Carmelites. 

S.  M.  della  Neve,  Our  Lady  of  the  Snow.  See  legend  of  Santa 
Maria  Maggiore. 

S.  M.  del  Bosario,  Our  Lady  of  the  Bosary.     See  the  Bosary. 

S.  M.  della  Stella,  Our  Lady  of  the  Star,  when  the  star  is  em- 
broidered on  her  mantle  as  an  attribute. 

S.  M.  del  Fiore,  Our  Lady  of  the  Flower.  This  is  her  title  as 
protectress  of  Florence. 

Certain  prophets  are  sometimes  represented  as  attending  on 
Mary  and  the  Infant  Jesus.  They  are  those  who  are  supposed  to 
have  referred  especially  to  the  Incarnation.     They  are  :  — 

Moses,  because  he  beheld  the  burning  bush. 

Aaron,  whose  rod  blossomed  miraculously. 

Gideon,  whose  fleece  was  wet  with  dew,  when  it  was  dry  all 
around. 


16 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


Daniel  (Dan  il.  45). 

David,  both  prophet  and  ancestor. 

Isaiah,  who  prophesied  that  a  virgin  should  conceive  and  bear  a 
son. 

Ezekiel  (Ezek.  xliv.  2).  Frequently  the  figures  of  these  proph- 
ets are  omitted,  and  symbols  of  them  introduced,  as  the  burning 
bush  for  Moses  ;  the  dewy  fleece  for  Gideon  ;  the  rod  for  Aaron, 
etc.,  etc. 

Certain  women,  too,  are  regarded  as  types  of  Mary,  and  are  often 
seated  at  her  feet,  or  otherwise  represented  near  her,  as,  — 

Judith  and  Esther,  who  were  emblems  of  the  Virgin,  in  having 
brought  deliverance  to  Israel. 

Ruth,  because  she  was  the  ancestress  of  David. 

Bathsheba,  because  she  sat  on  the  right  hand  of  her  son. 

Abishag,  who  was  "  the  virgin  who  was  brought  to  the  king." 

There  are  certain  general  symbols  which  are  also  given  to  Mary, 
with  peculiar  significations. 

The  Apple,  when  in  the  hand  of  the  infant  Saviour,  signifies  the 
sin  of  Paradise,  which  made  his  coming  necessary  ;  but  in  the  hand 
of  the  Virgin,  it  designates  her  as  the  second  Eve. 

The  Serpent,  the  general  emblem  of  Satan  and  sin,  has  a  pe- 
culiar meaning  when  placed  beneath  the  feet  of  the  Virgin,  and  is 
illustrative  of  the  sentence,  "  Ipsa  conteret  caput  tuum,"  "  She  shall 
bruise  thy  head." 

The  Globe,  beneath  the  Virgin  and  intwined  by  a  serpent,  is 
the  symbol  of  her  triumph  over  a  world  fallen  through  sin. 

The  Pomegranate,  the  emblem  of  hope,  is  frequently  given  to 
the  Virgin  by  the  child  Jesus. 

Birds,  in  ancient  pictures,  figured  the  soul  or  the  spiritual,  as  the 
opposite  of  the  material.  Thus  the  dove  is  the  Holy  Spirit  hover- 
ing above  her  ;  while  the  seven  doves,  which  typify  the  gifts  of  the 
Spirit,  when  surrounding  the  Virgin,  make  her  the  Mater  Sapientiae, 
or  the  Mother  of  Wisdom.  When  doves  are  near  her  while  she 
reads  or  works,  they  express  her  gentleness  and  tenderness. 

The  Book,  in  the  hand  of  Mary,  if  open,  represents  the  book  of 
Wisdom  ;  if  closed  or  sealed,  it  is  a  mystical  symbol  of  the  Virgin, 
which  will  be  further  explained. 

Flowers  were  consecrated  to  the  Virgin,  and  Fruits  signify 
"  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  — joy,  peace,  and  love." 

Lastly,  there  are  many  symbols  of  the  Virgin,  derived  from  the 
Canticles  and  the  Litanies  of  the  Virgin,  and  which  belong  especially 
to  her. 

The  Lily.  (Cant.  ii.  12.)  ^'I  am  the  rose  of  Sharon,  and  lily  of 
the  valleys." 

The  Bose  is  one  emblem  of  love  and  beauty,  and  especially  ded- 
icated to  Mary.  A  plantation  or  garden  of  roses  is  often  repre- 
sented. 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


17 


The  Enclosed  Garden  (Cant.  iv.  12). 

The  Star  is  often  embroidered  on  her  veil  or  mantle.  When 
she  has  a  crown  of  twelve  stars  it  is  illustrative  of  the  description 
in  the  Kevelation.  She  is  also  called  "  Stella  Maris,"  star  of  the 
sea  ;  "  Stella  Jacobi,"  the  star  of  Jacob  ;  "  Stella  non  Erratica," 
the  fixed  star  ;  and  "  Stella  Matutina,"  the  morning  star. 

The  Sun  and  Moon  refer  to  her  as  the  woman  of  the  Apoca- 
lypse :  "  A  woman  clothed  with  the  sun,  having  the  moon  under  her 
feet,  and  on  her  head  a  crown  of  twelve  stars." 

The  Stem  of  Jesse,  is  represented  as  a  green  branch  twined 
with  flowers  (Isa.  xi.  1). 

The  Porta  Clausa,  or  closed  gate    (Ezek.  xliv.  4). 

The  Well,  Fountain,  City  of  David,  Temple  of  Solomon, 
and  Tower  of  David,  are  all  symbols  borrowed  from  the  Canticles. 

The  Olive,  The  Cypress,  and  Palm,  are  all  emblems  of  the 
Virgin.  The  first  signifies  peace,  hope,  and  abundance ;  the  second 
points  to  heaven,  and  the  third  speaks  of  victory. 

The  Cedar  of  Lebanon,  by  its 
height,  its  perfume,  its  healing  qual- 
ities, and  its  incorruptible  substance, 
symbolizes  the  greatness,  goodness 
and  beauty  of  the  Virgin. 

The  Sealed  Book,  in  the  hands 
of  the  Virgin,  alludes  to  the  text,  "  In 
that  book  were  all  my  members  writ- 
ten," and  also  to  the  sealed  book  de- 
scribed by  Isaiah  (xxix.  11,  12). 

The  Mirror  is  borrowed  as  an 
emblem  from  the  book  of  Wisdom 
(vii.  25).    "  Specula  sine  macula." 

The  explanation  of  the  seven  joys  I 
and  the  seven  sorrows  of  the  Virgin, 
as  well  as  that  of  the  mysteries  of  the 
Eosary,  will  be  found,  by  reference  to 
them  in  their  alphabetical  order,  in 
the  next  division  of  this  book. 


IX. 


SYMBOLS  OF  THE 
EVANGELISTS. 


When  the  Evangelists  are  repre- 
sented together,  it  is  in  their  character 
of  witnesses,  upon  whose  testimony 
the  whole  truth  of  Christianity  rests  ; 
when  they  are  single  they  are  usually 
presented  as  teachers  or  patrons.  The  Tetramorph. 
2 


18 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART, 


earliest  symbol  of  the  Evangelists  was  a  Greek  cross,  with  a  scroll 
or  book  in  each  angle,  —  emblems  of  the  writers  of  the  four  Gospels. 
The  second  symbol  was  that  of  the  four  rivers,  which  rise  in  Para- 
dise. Sometimes  the  Saviour  with  a  lamb,  or  the  symbolic  Agnus 
Dei,  was  represented  on  an  eminence,  with  the  four  streams,  sym- 
bolizing the  Evangelists,  flowing  from  beneath  him.  Their  next 
symbol  was  the  four  fiery  creatures  of  Ezekiel's  vision  (Ezek.  i.  5). 
These  were  interpreted  by  the  Jews,  as  representing  the  archangels  ; 
also  the  prophets,  Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  Ezekiel,  and  Daniel  ;  but  the 
early  Christians  explained  them  more  satisfactorily  to  themselves, 
as  emblems  of  the  Evangelists. 

The  four  "  beasts  "  of  the  Apocalypse  received  the  same  explan- 
ation, and  in  the  sev- 
enth century  they  liad 
become  the  distinctive 
symbols  of  these  in- 
spired witnesses. 

Jerome  explains  the 
individual  application 
of  these  symbols  thus  : 
1.  The  cherub, 
which  most  resembles 
a  human  being,  was 
given  to  St.  Matthew,  because  he  speaks  more  of  the  human  than 
of  the  divine  nature  of  our  Saviour. 

2.  The    Lion     symbolizes  St. 
Mark,  for  three  reasons  :  — 

(i.)  He  commences  his  epistle  with 
the  mission  of  St.  John  the  Bap- 
tist, The  voice  of  one  crying  in 
the  wilderness." 

(ii.)  The  king  of  beasts  is  a  type 
of  the   royal  dignity    of  Christ, 
which  St.  Mark  makes  so  apparent, 
(iii.)  According  to  an  oriental 

born 


(Mosaic)  St.  Mark. 


St.  Mark. 

tradition  the  young  lions  are 


(Mosaic,  5th  Century.)  St.  Luke. 


dead,  and  after  three  days  are 
made  alive,  by  the  breath  or  the 
roar  of  the  sire  ;  thus  they  are  an 
emblem  of  the  Resurrection,  of 
which  St.  Mark  is  called  the  his- 
torian. 

3.  The  Ox  was  given  St.  Luke 
because  he  especially  sets  forth 
the  Priesthood  of  Christ,  and  the 
ox  is  symbolical  of  sacrifice. 

4.  The  Eao;le  was  given  to  St. 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


19 


The 


John  as  an  emblem  of 
the  lofty  flights  of  his 
inspiration. 

Others  regarded  these 
"  Beasts  "  as  shadowing 
forth  the  Incarnation, 
Passion,  Resurrection, 
and  Ascension  of  Je- 
sus ;  and  they  are  also  «i:r-:^ 
believed  to  represent 

the  fourfold    character  (Mosaic,  llth  Century.)  St.  John, 

of  Christ  as  man,  king,  high-priest,  and  God. 

These  symbolic  creatures  were  always  represented  as  winged, 
union  of  all  four  "  Beasts,"  forms  that 
mysterious  emblem  called  the  Tetra- 
morph.  In  another  symbol  a  woman 
represents  the  new  Law,  or  the  Church. 
She  is  crowned  and  seated  on  a  crea- 
ture who  has  the  four  heads  of  these 
symbolic  beasts,  the  body  of  a  horse, 
and  four  feet,  embracing  one  of  each 
of  the  four  creatures.  Again,  the 
Church  is  in  a  triumphal  chariot,  driven 
by  a  cherub  or  angel,  and  drawn  by  the 

lion,  ox,  and  eagle.    The  next  advance   " — 

was  the  combination  of  the  human  form  (Mosaic,  a.  d.  750.)  St.  Luke, 
with  the  heads  of  these  mystic  beasts.  Figures  formed  in  this  way 
were  sometimes  represented 
alternately,  with  the  figures 
of  the  prophets,  all  forming 
a  circle.  These  ideas  seem 
to  have  been  borrowed  from 
the  winged  bulls,  with  human 
heads,  found  at  Nineveh. 

At  length  the  only  symbol 
retained  in  the  re{)resenta- 
tions  of  the  Evangelists  was 
the  wings.  These  were  at- 
tached to  the  human  form  ; 
they  bear  their  books,  and 
the  symbolic  creatures  were 
represented  near  them  or  at 
their  feet. 

The     Evangelists    were  i^lj^-4=tMI~' 
often  represented  together,  ^^^^^^p\^_^- 
with  four  prophets,  thus  sym-  ' 
(Fra  Angelico.)  bohzingtlie    old    and    new         {Fra  Angelico.) 


20 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


law  ;  or  with  four  doctors  of  the  Church, 
as  witnesses  to,  and  interpreters  of  the 
truth. 

In  later  art  the  Evangelists  appear  with- 
out emblems  ov  attributes ;  sometimes  with 
their  names  inscribed  above  or  beneath 
their  representations.  In  speaking  of  the 
different  stages  of  this  symbolism,  Mrs. 
Jameson  says  :  It  will  be  interesting  to 
pause  for  a  mo- 
ment and  take  a 
rapid,  retrospective 
view  of  the  progress, 
from  first  to  last, 
in  the  expression  of 
an  idea  through 
form.  First,  we 
have  the  mere  fact ; 
the  four  scrolls,  or 
the  four  books. 
Next,  the  idea ; 
the  four  rivers  of  sal- 
vation, flowing  from 
on  high,  to  fertilize 
St.  John.  the    whole  earth. 

Thirdly,  the  prophetic  symbol ;  the  winged  cherub  of  fourfold  aspect. 

^'  Next,  tiie  Christian  symbol ;  the  four  beasts 
in  the  Apocalypse,  with  or  without  the  angel- 
wings.  Then  the  combination  of  the  emblemat- 
ical animal  with  the  human  form.  Then  the 
human  personages,  each  of  venerable,  or  inspired 
aspect,  as  becomes  the  teacher  and  witness ;  and 
each  attended  by  the  Scriptural  emblem  —  no 
longer  an  emblem  but  an  attribute  marking  his 
individual  vocation  and  character. 

And,  lastly,  the  emblem  and  attribute  both 
discarded,  we  have  the  human  being  only,  hold- 
ing his  gosjDcl,  ^.  e.  his  version  of  the  doctrine 
of  Christ!"  1 

X.  SYMBOLS  OF  THE  APOSTLES. 

The  earliest  purely  symbolic  representation  of 
the  Twelve  Apostles  was  that  of  twelve  sheep 
surrounding  Christ,  the  good  Shepherd,  while  He 

^  Sacred  and  Legendary  Art. 


(Hans  Bebam.) 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


21 


bore  a  lamb  in  his  arms  ;  or  again,  Jesus  as  the  Lamb  of  God,  is  on 
an  eminence,  from  which  flow  the  four  rivers  of  Paradise,  while  on 
one  side  six  sLieep  leave  Jerusalem,  and  on  the  other  side  the  same 
number  leave  Bethlehem.  They  were  very  rarely  represented  by 
doves.  The  next  advance  was  to  represent  them  as  men,  and  all 
bearing  sheep  ;  or  in  place  of  sheep,  scrolls,  and  distinguished  from 
each  other  by  the  inscription  of  their  names  above  them. 

According  to  tradition,  the  Apostles,  before  separating,  composed 
the  Apostles'  Creed,  of  which  each  one  furnished  a  sentence,  or 
proposition.  These  are  inscribed  on  their  scrolls  as  follows  :  St. 
Peter,  —  Credo  in  Deum  Patrem  omnipotentem,  creatorem  coeli  et 
terras;  St.  Andrew,  —  Et  in  Jesum  Christum  Filium  ejus  unicum, 
Dominum  nostrum  ;  St.  James  Major,  —  Qui  conceptus  est  de  Spiritu 
Sancto,  natus  ex  Maria  Yirgine  ;  St.  John,  —  Passus  sub  Pontio  Pi- 
lato,  crucifixus,  mortuus  et  sepultus  ;  St.  Philip,  —  Descendit  ad 
inferos,  tertia  die  resurrexit  a  mortuis  ;  St.  James  Minor,  —  Ascendit 
ad  coelos,  sedet  ad  dexteram  Dei  Patris  omnipotentis ;  St.  Thomas, 

—  Inde  venturus  est  judicare  vivos  et  mortuos  ;  St.  Bartholomew,  — 
Credo  in  Spiritum  Sanctum  ;  St.  Matthew,  —  Sanctam  Ecclesiam 
Catholicam,  sanctorum  communionum  ;  St.  Simon,  —  Remissionem 
peccatorum  ;  St.  Matthias,  —  Carnis  resurrectionem  ;  St.  Thaddeus, 

—  Et  vitam  asternam.  From  the  sixth  century,  each  one  of  the 
Apostles  had  his  especial  attribute,  which  was  taken  from  some  cir- 
cumstance of  his  life  or  death,  and  which  will  be  found  in  the 
legends  of  each.    These  attributes  are  as  follows  :  — 

St.  Peter,  the  keys  or  a  fish. 

St.  Andrew,  the  transverse  cross  which  bears  his  name. 
St.  James  Major,  the  pilgrim's  staff. 

St.  John,  the  chalice  with  the  serpent  is  the  proper  attribute  of 
the  Apostle  :  but  the  eagle,  which  is  his  attribute  as  an  Evangelist, 
is  sometimes,  seen  when  he  is  with  the  Apostles. 

St.  Thomas,  generally,  a  builder's  rule  ;  rarely,  a  spear. 

St.  James  Minor,  a  club. 

St.  Philip,  a  small  cross  on  a  staff  or  crosier,  surmounted  by  a 
cross. 

St.  Bartholomew,  a  knife. 

St.  Matthew,  a  purse. 

St.  Simon,  a  saw. 

St.  Thaddeus,  a  halberd  or  lance. 

St.  Matthias,  a  lance. 

Sometimes  St.  Paul,  St.  Mark,  and  St.  Luke  are  represented  with 
the  Apostles,  and  some  others  are  left  out,  as  the  number  is  always 
twelve.    In  such  cases,  St.  Paul  bears  either  one  or  two  swords. 

The  Apostles  have  also  been  represented  seated  on  clouds,  sur- 
rounding the  Saviour,  as  they  are  supposed  to  be  in  heaven.  Later 
art  has  not  only  distinguished  each  of  the  Apostles  by  his  own 


22  SYMBOLISM  IN  ART, 

attribute,  it  has  also  attempted  to  represent  the  character  of  each 
in  the  face  and  bearing  ;  and  the  illustration  of  the  legends  which 
develop  the  characteristics  drawn  from  the  Scripture  history,  enables 
the  artist  to  accomplish  this  object,  sometimes  with  wonderful  effect. 

XI.    SYMBOLS  OF  THE  MONASTIC  ORDERS. 

To  a  student  or  lover  of  art,  there  is  a  world  of  interest  connected 
with  the  monastic  orders,  with  their  founders,  their  artists,  their 
pictures.  While  they  instituted  schools,  built  cathedrals,  and 
founded  hospitals,  they  were  the  most  munificent  patrons  of  art  the 
world  has  ever  seen.  To  them  we  are  indebted  for  many  of  the 
rarest  gems  of  painting.  Intended  for  the  seclusion  of  church  and 
cloister,  they  noiu  belong  to  all  the  world  :  for  who  that  has  gazed  on 
the  Madonna  di  San  Sisto;  on  the  spirit-moving  pictures  of  Angelico 
the  Blessed,  and  many,  many  others,  does  not  feel  that  he  has  a  pos- 
session in  them  ;  that  they  have  imparted  something  to  him  that 
was  his  ;  something  intended  for  him,  and  held  in  trust  until  he  came 
to  claim  his  own  ?  There  are  certain  peculiarities  in  what  may  be 
called  monastic  pictures,  which  were  most  fitting  when  in  their 
proper  places,  but  which  seem  incongruous  when  in  the  galleries  of 
art,  or  on  the  walls  of  palaces.  I  refer  especially  to  the  representa- 
tion of  the  personages,  and  the  peculiar  habits  and  symbols  of  the 
different  Orders  for  which  the  pictures  were  painted.  For  instance, 
in  pictures  of  the  Annunciation,  and  other  scenes  from  the  life  of 
the  Virgin,  or  the  Saviour,  we  see  the  founders  of  Orders  and  In- 
stitutions in  their  distinctive  dress ;  and  until  we  consider  that  they 
were  painted  for  these  Orders,  and  in  honor  of  these  very  founders 
and  saints,  we  wonder  at  and  are  disturbed  by  the  seeming  inappro- 
priateness  of  the  representations. 

That  these  things  are  so,  make  it  a  necessity  that  some  attention 
should  be  given  to  these  symbols  and  habits.  A  knowledge  of  them 
enables  one  to  decide  for  what  Order  a  picture  was  intended,  and 
explains  much  of  its  import  and  purpose. 

There  are  certain  general  symbols  which  have  a  peculiar  signifi- 
cance in  monastic  pictures  :  — 

The  Nimbus  is  given  only  to  a  canonized  saint,  never  to  a  beato ; 
sometimes  the  picture  is  painted  before  canonization,  and  the  nim- 
bus added  afterwards. 

Thp:  Infant  Christ  is  often  placed  in  the  arms  of  a  saint,  or,  in 
some  pictures  of  the  Virgin,  she  bends  down  and  places  the  child  in 
the  arms  of  holy  men  and  women.  These  are  generally  representa- 
tions of  visions  which  these  saints  have  had,  or  have  arisen  from 
legends  like  that  of  St.  Anthony  of  Padua,  which  relates  that  the 
Saviour  came  in  this  form,  and  stood  on  his  book  while  he  preached 
the  Gospel. 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


23 


The  Standard,  surmounted  by  the  cross,  belongs  especially  to 
such  as  were  missionaries  and  Apostles,  and  carried  the  Gospel  to 
heathen  nations.  It  is  also  an  attribute  of  the  warrior  saints  con- 
nected with  the  monastic  orders. 

The  Crown  at  the  feet  of  saints,  indicates  that  they  were  of 
royal  birth,  or  resigned  their  kingdoms  for  the  monastery.  If  they 
retained  their  rank  until  death,  they  wear  the  crown  ;  and  female 
saints  of  royal  blood  frequently  wear  the  diadem  outside  the  veil. 

A  Seraph  distinguishes  the  saints  of  the  Seraphic  Order. 

The  Stigmata,  or  wounds  of  Christ,  belong  properly  to  St. 
Catherine  of  Siena  and  St.  Francis  alone,  but  are  sometimes  given 
to  St.  Maria  Maddalena  de*  Pazzi. 

The  Book  in  the  hand  has  the  general  signification  of  the  Gos- 
pel, but  accompanied  by  the  pen  or  ink-horn  it  indicates  that  the 
saint  was  an  author,  and  the  book  is  sometimes  lettered  with  the 
proper  titles  of  his  works.  The  open  book  in  the  hand  of  a  founder, 
is  the  symbol  of  the  Rule  of  his  Order,  and  is  often  inscribed  with 
the  first  sentence  of  the  rule. 

The  Crucifix  in  the  hand,  signifies  a  preacher  ;  it  is  also  an 
emblem  of  penance  and  faith. 

The  Flaming  Heart  is  an  emblem  of  divine  love.  The  heart 
crowned  with  thorns  belongs  to  St.  Francis  de  Sales.  The  heart 
inscribed  with  I.  H.  S.,  is  given  to  Jesuit  saints,  to  St.  Theresa,  St. 
Bridget  of  Sweden,  and  St.  Maria  Maddalena  de'  Pazzi. 

The  Crown  of  Thorns  on  the  head,  or  in  the  hands,  is  the 
symbol  of  suffering  for  Christ's  sake. 

The  Palm  is  not  a  general  symbol  for  the  monastic  saints,  but  is 
given  to  St.  Piacidus,  St.  Boniface,  and  St.  Thomas  a  Becket,  of  the 
Benedictines ;  to  St.  Angelus  and  St.  Albert,  of  the  Carmelites,  and 
to  St.  Peter  Martyr,  of  the  Dominicans,  and  but  few  others. 

The  Scourge  is  the  symbol  of  self-inflicted  penance. 

Walking  on  the  Sea  represents  a  miracle  attributed  to  the 
saint  who  is  so  painted. 

The  Cardinal's  Hat  is  proper  to  St.  Bonaventura.  He  is  dis- 
tinguished from  St.  Jerome  by  the  Franciscan  girdle. 

The  Mitre  and  Pastoral  Staff  belong  to  abbots  and  bishops. 
The  staff  without  the  mitre  is  proper  only  to  abbesses. 

Slaves  with  Broken  Chains,  as  well  as  beggars,  children,  and 
lepers  at  the  feet  of  a  saint,  signify  beneficence. 

Roses  are  significant  of  the  name  of  the  saint,  or  are  connected 
with  some  circumstance  in  their  lives,  as  with  St.  Elizabeth  of 
Hungary,  and  St.  Dorothea. 

The  Lily  is  an  emblem  of  purity  and  chastity,  and  of  very 
general  use,  but  it  belongs  especially  to  St.  Clara,  St.  Anthony  of 
Padua,  St.  Catherine  of  Siena,  as  well  as  to  those  who  made  vows 
of  celibacy,  like  St.  Casimir  and  others.    The  crucifix  twined  with 


24 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


lilies  belongs  to  St.  Nicholas  of  Tolentino.  The  lily  also  belongs  to 
such  as  devoted  themselves  especially  to  the  Virgin. 

The  Star  over  the  head  or  breast  expresses  the  divine  attesta- 
tion to  the  sanctity  of  the  saint. 

The  Sun  on  the  breast  is  the  symbol  of  the  light  of  wisdom. 

The  Dove  is  the  emblem  of  the  direct  inspiration  of  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

The  Fish,  as  the  emblem  of  baptism,  belongs  to  some  early  mis- 
sionaries and  such  as  converted  the  heathen. 

The  Lamb  is  proper  to  St.  Francis  as  the  symbol  of  meekness. 

Wild  Beasts  at  the  feet  of  a  saint,  signify  that  he  cleared  a 
wilderness  or  founded  a  convent  in  a  solitude. 

The  Hind  or  Stag  is  the  emblem  of  solitude. 

The  Dragon  at  the  feet  is  sin  conquered,  but  chained  to  a 
rock  or  led  by  a  chain  it  is  heresy  vanquished. 

The  habits  and  special  symbols  of  different  orders  are  impor- 
tant. First,  the  Benedictines  with  St.  Benedict  as  their  general 
patriarch,  embrace  — 

The  Camaldolesi,  founded  by  St.  Romualdo  ; 

The  Yallombrosians,  founded  by  St.  John  Gualberto  ; 

The  Carthusians,  founded  by  St.  Bruno ; 

The  Cistercians,  founded  by  St.  Bernard  of  Clairvaux ; 

The  Olivetani,  founded  by  St.  Bernardo  Ptolomei ; 

The  Oratorians,  founded  by  St.  Philip  Neri ; 

The  Cluniacs,  founded  by  St.  Peter  of  Cluony ; 

And  some  other  less  important  branches  which  are  governed  by 
the  rule  of  St.  Benedict. 

The  color  of  the  habit  is  not  especially  determined  in  the  Bene- 
dictine rule.  In  the  early  pictures  of  St.  Benedict  he  wears  black, 
but  in  some  pictures  painted  for  the  reformed  Benedictines,  .he  is  in 
a  white  habit.  The  black  habit  is  given  to  St.  Scholastica  and  the 
pupils  of  St.  Benedict,  St.  Maurus,  and  St.  Placid  us,  and  to  St. 
Flavia  ;  also  to  St.  Boniface,  the  Apostle  of  Germany  ;  St.  Ben- 
nett, Bishop  of  Durham ;  St.  Benedict  of  Anian  ;  St.  Dunstan  of 
Canterbury  ;  St.  Walpurgis  of  Eichstadt ;  St.  Giles  of  Languedoc, 
St.  Ildefonso  of  Toledo  ;  St.  Bavon  of  Ghent ;  and  to  nearly  all 
Benedictines  who  lived  before  the  year  1020. 

The  Camaldolesi  and  their  founder  wear  white. 

The  Yallombrosians,  gray  or  ash  color. 

The  Cluniacs,  black. 

The  Cistercians,  white.  Their  habit  is  long  and  loose,  with 
very  wide  sleeves. 

The  Carthusians,  white. 
The  Olivetani,  white. 

These  orders  furnished  the  earliest  artists  and  architects  of  Eu- 
rope.   The  monastery  of  Monte  Cassino  was  founded  by  St.  Ben- 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


25 


edict.  Its  church  and  cloisters  contpJn  many  works  of  art,  and 
among  them  the  statues  in  marble  of  the  most  noted  members  and 
benefactors  of  the  community.  The  cave  at  Subiaco,  the  Sacro 
Speco,  is  of  great  mterest,  and  painted  with  very  ancient  frescoes. 
They  were  done  in  1219,  and  are  important  in  the  history  of  art. 
Among  the  finest  edifices  of  the  Benedictines  may  be  mentioned  the 
Basilica  of  San  Paolo  fuor-le-mure  at  Rome,  San  Severino  at  Na- 
ples, San  Giustina  at  Padua,  the  monastery  of  Bamberg  in  Ger- 
many, St.  Maur,  Marmoutier,  and  Fontevrauld  in  France.  For 
their  convent  at  Piacenza,  the  Madonna  di  San  Sisto  was  painted  ; 
for  that  at  Grotta  Ferrata,  the  life  of  St.  Nilus  by  Domenichino  ;  at 
San  Severino,  the  life  of  St.  Benedict  by  Antonio  lo  Zingaro.  For 
the  Vallombrosians,  Perugino  painted  the  Assumption.  Taddeo 
Gaddi  painted  many  pictures  for  the  Camaldolesi ;  and  for  different 
Benedictine  Orders,  Ghirlandajo  and  Andrea  del  Sarto  painted  some 
of  their  finest  pictures.  The  Certosa  di  Pavia  is  unequaled  in  many 
points,  and  has  works  of  Luini,  Borgognone,  and  many  other  fa- 
mous masters.  This  is  a  Carthusian  monastery,  as  is  also  the  Cer- 
tosa at  Bome,  built  by  Michael  Angelo.  Zurbaran  and  Carducho 
painted  for  the  Spanish  Carthusians,  and  Le  Sueur  the  life  of  St. 
Bruno  for  those  at  Paris. 

The  Cistercians  have  many  pictures  of  the  Virgin,  as  they  es- 
pecially worship  her  and  dedicate  their  churches  in  her  name. 

The  beautiful  church  of  San  Lorenzo  in  Cremona,  and  that  of 
Santa  Maria  in  Organo  at  Yerona,  belong  to  the  Olivetani,  whose 
artists  excelled  in  Tarsia  or  Intarsiatura,  a  beautiful  style  of  inlaid 
work.  In  England  many  of  the  finest  cathedrals  were  Benedictine 
foundations,  and  the  word  Abbey  belonged  especially  to  this  order. 

The  Augustines. 

These  orders  reverence  St.  Augustine  of  Hippo  as  their  general 
patriarch  and  founder.    They  embrace  —  • 

The  Servi,  founded  by  St.  Philip  Benozzi; 

The  Order  of  Mercy,  founded  by  St.  Peter  Nolasco  ; 

The  Brigittines,  founded  by  St.  Bridget  of  Sweden. 

The  Augustines  reverence  St.  Joseph,  the  husband  of  the  Virgin 
Mary,  as  their  patriarch  and  patron  saint.  The  habit  of  the  Augus- 
tines is  black.  St.  Augustine  and  his  mother,  St.  Monica,  are  the 
principal  personages  in  the  pictures  of  the  Order.  St.  Joseph  and 
all  the  events  of  his  life  are  also  favorite  subjects,  and  the  earliest 
martyrs  and  bishops,  though  common  to  all  orders,  are  especially 
honored  by  the  Augustines.  Their  primitive  hermits,  St.  Anthony 
and  St.  Paul,  also  receive  much  veneration  ;  but  their  chief  saint  is 
Nicholas  of  Tolentino.  The  most  important  churches  of  the 
Agostini  in  Italy  are  the  Sant'  Agostino  at  Pavia,  which  contains 
the  magnificent  shrine  of  their  founder,  which  has  in  all  two  hun- 


26 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


dred  and  ninety  figures  worked  in  marble.  The  principal  events  of 
the  life  of  St.  Augustine  are  represented,  and  there  are  also  statues 
of  the  Evangelists,  Apostles,  and  many  saints.  The  Sant'  Agos- 
tino  at  Kome  is  the  church  for  which  the  Isaiah  of  Kaphael  was 
painted.  The  Eremitani  at  Padua  and  the  San  Lorenzo  of  Flor- 
ence, are  rich  in  works  of  art.  The  cathedrals  at  Cologne,  Stras- 
bourg, and  Mayence  belong  to  the  Augustines,  and  churches  every- 
where which  are  dedicated  to  St.  Laurence,  St.  Sebastian,  St. 
Mary  Magdalene,  and  St.  Antonio  Abbate  usually  are  of  this 
Order. 

The  Fkanciscain's. 

With  St.  Francis  at  their  head,  this  order  embraces  the  — 
Capuchins  ; 
Observants ; 
Conventuals , and 

MiNIMES. 

These  monks,  as  well  as  the  Dominicans,  are  called  frati,  or  broth- 
ers, instead  of  padrl,  or  fathers,  and  the  humility  of  St.  Francis 
caused  him  to  add  the  word  minori,  or  lesser,  to  his  community. 
The  habit  of  the  Franciscans  was  first  gray,  and  remained  so  for 
two  centuries,  when  it  was  changed  to  dark  brown.  It  is  a  plain 
tunic  with  long  full  sleeves,  but  not  as  ample  as  those  of  the  Bene- 
dictines. This  tunic  is  bound  about  the  waist  with  a  knotted  cord, 
which  is  the  emblem  of  a  beast  subdued ;  and  this  was  the  light  in 
which  St.  Francis  considered  the  body  when  subjected  to  the  spirit. 
A  scanty  cape  hangs  about  the  shoulders,  to  which  is  attached  a 
hood  tD  be  drawn  over  the  head  in  cold  w^eather.  The  nuns  wear 
the  same  dress,  with  a  veil  in  place  of  the  hood.  The  third  order 
of  St.  Francis  are  distinguished  by  the  cord  worn  as  a  girdle.  The 
Franciscans  are  barefooted  or  with  a  sandal  known  in  Italy  as  the 
zoccolo,  hence  the  name  Zoccolanti  by  which  these  friars  are  some- 
times called.  The  Minimes  are  distinguished  by  a  scapulary  which 
hangs  a  little  below  the  girdle  in  front  and  is  rounded  at  the  ends  ; 
to  this  is  attached  a  small  round  hood,  while  that  •  of  the  Capuchins 
is  pointed.  The  Franciscans  aspired  to  extreme  sanctity,  and  were 
greatly  beloved  by  the  people.  They  have  several  royal  saints,  but 
first  are  their  eight  principal  saints,  called,  "  I  Cardini  dell  Ordine 
Serafico,"  —  the  chiefs  of  the  Seraphic  Order. 

1.  St.  Francis,  Padre  Serafico,  patriarch  and  founder. 

2.  St.  Clara,  Madre  Serafica,  first  Franciscan  nun  and  foundress 
of  the  Povere  Donne  or  Poor  Clares. 

3.  St.  Bonaventura,  il  Dottore  Serafico,  the  great  prelate  of  the 
Order. 

4.  St.  Antony  of  Padua,  who  is,  next  to  St.  Francis,  the  miracle- 
worker  of  the  order. 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


27 


5.  St.  Bernardino  of  Siena,  their  great  preacher  and  reformer. 

6.  St.  Louis,  King  of  France. 

7.  St.  Louis,  Bishop  of  Toulouse. 

8.  St.  Eh'zabeth  of  Hungary. 

Then  follow  St.  Margaret  of  Cortona,  St  Rosa  di  Yiterbo,  St. 
Felix  de  Cantalicio,  and  a  host  of  others. 

The  churches  of  the  Franciscans  have  been  magnificently 
adorned.  The  parent  convent  and  church  at  Assisi  was  three  hun- 
dred years  in  the  hands  of  the  greatest  artists  of  Italy;  Raphael, 
Plnturicchio,  Giotto,  Taddeo  and  Angelo  Gaddi,  Giottino,  Luca 
della  Robbia,  and  Benedetto  da  Maiano,  all  contributed  to  the  deco- 
ration of  Franciscan  edifices.  The  St.  Antonio-di-Padova  is  filled 
with  art  treasures.  It  has  bronzes  of  Donatello  and  Andrea  Riccio ; 
pictures  by  many  of  the  great  painters  of  Upper  Italy,  and  marbles 
of  Lombardi,  Sansovino,  and  Sammichele.  Murillo  painted  many 
of  his  wonderful  j^ictures  for  this  Order  in  Spain. 

The  Dominicans. 

These  are  called  the  Preaching  Friars,  and  have  St.  Dominick  at 
their  head.  They  wear  a  white  woolen  gown,  fastened  with  a  white 
girdle  ;  over  this  a  white  scapular,  which  hangs  to  the  feet  from 
the  neck,  both  before  and  behind,  like  a  long  apron  ;  over  all  a  black 
cloak  with  a  hood.     The  scapular  of  the  lay  brothers  is  black. 

The  Dominicans  always  wear  shoes.  Their  traditions  teach  that 
this  habit  was  adopted  in  accordance  with  the  directions  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin.  The  white  symbolizes  purity  ;  the  black,  mortifica- 
tion and  penance.  Their  four  principal  saints  are  St.  Dominick,  St. 
Peter  Martyr ;  St.  Thomas  Aquinas,  the  Angelic  Doctor ;  and 
St.  Catherine  of  Siena.  The  Dominicans  have  embraced  some 
of  the  most  splendid  artists  and  patrons  of  art.  Th6  shrine  of  St. 
Dominick  is  in  the  church  of  his  Order  at  Bologna.  It  is  called,  in 
Italy,  the  Area  di  San  Domenico."  iSTiccolo  Pisano  built  the 
church  and  executed  the  shrine,  but  the  church  has  been  rebuilt  in 
modern  style.  At  Rome,  the  Santa  Maria-Sopra-Minerva  is  their 
most  important  church  ;  and  here  sleeps  Angelico  da  Fiesole,  ^'  II 
Beato,"  and  Leo  X.,  with  Cardinal  Howard,  Cardinal  Bembo,  and 
Durandus.  This  church  is  filled  with  beautiful  pictures,  and  here  is 
Michael  Angelo's  statue  of  Christ.  At  Florence,  the  Dominicans 
have  the  Santa  Maria  ^^'ovella.  In  this  church  is  the  Chapel  Dei 
Spagnuoli,  painted  by  Taddeo  Gaddi  and  Simone  Memmi.  The 
Strozzi  Chapel,  by  Andrea  Orcagna ;  and  here  is  the  Madonna  and 
Child,  by  Cimabue. 

In  Florence  is  the  convent  of  St.  Mark,  where  lived  and  painted 
Fra  Angelico,  and  Fra  Bartolomeo.  The  first  of  these  entered  this 
convent  when  twenty  years  old,  and  passed  the  remainder  of  his 


28 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


long  life  in  painting  the  spiritual  conceptions  of  his  devout  and  gen- 
tle mind.  He  believed  that  God  granted  him  his  benediction  on  his 
labors,  and  so  impressed  was  he  with  the  religious  importance  of 
them,  that  he  is  said  to  have  painted  much  upon  his  bended  knees, 
as  if  performing  an  act  of  devotion.  His  principal  works  are  in  his 
own  convent,  in  the  Church  of  Santa  Maria  Novella,  and  in  the 
Chapel  of  Nicholas  V.,  in  the  Vatican.  Fra  Bartolomeo  is  also 
called  Baccio  della  Porta  and  II  Frate. 

At  Siena  the  Dominicans  have  the  Madonna  by  Guido  da  Siena, 
and  the  frescoes  of  Razzi.  For  this  Order,  Leonardo  da  Vinci 
painted  his  Last  Supper,  and  Titian  his  San  Pietro  Martire. 

Their  churches  were  built  without  aisles,  having  a  nave  only,  in 
order  that  the  preaching,  which  was  their  especial  duty,  might  be 
heard  in  every  part ;  this  form  of  edifice  was  very  advantageous 
also  for  showing  off  their  pictures. 

The  Carmelites. 

This  Order  claim  the  prophet  Elijah  as  their  founder,  and  also 
that  Mt.  Carmel  has  been  inhabited  by  a  direct  succession  of  hermits 
ever  since  the  time  of  that  prophet.  They  wear  a  brown  tunic  with 
a  white  mantle,  and  are  also  called  White  Friars.  Their  most  in- 
teresting church  is  the  Carmini  at  Florence,  in  which  is  the  Bran- 
cacci  Chapel,  which  was  painted  by  Masaccio,  Filippino  Lippi,  and 
Masolino.    The  Carmeliles  are  not  important  as  an  Order  in  art. 

The  Jekonymites. 

These  monks  claim  St.  Jerome  as  their  founder,  and  adorn  their 
edifices  largely  with  pictures  of  that  saint,  and  scenes  from  his  life. 
The  Escurial  and  the  monastery  of  St.  Just,  in  Spain  ;  the  Monastery 
of  Belem  in  Portugal ;  and  that  of  St.  Sigismond  near  Cremona, 
in  Italy,  all  belong  to  this  Order,  which  is  remarkable  for  the  mag- 
nificence of  its  edifices. 

The  Jesuits. 

The  members  of  this  Order  are  not  easily  distinguished  in  art. 
They  wear  the  black  frock  buttoned  to  the  chin,  which  is  so  unfa- 
vorable for  a  picture,  that  they  are  often  represented  in  the  dress  of 
a  priest.  If  the  head  is  covered,  it  is  by  a  square  black  cap.  The 
Jesuits  did  not  appear  to  value  art  as  highly  as  many  of  the  other 
monastic  orders.  They  lavished  large  sums  of  money  on  their 
churches  ;  but  it  was  spent  in  brilliant  decorations  of  gold  and  silver, 
rare  marbles,  and  even  jewels,  rather  than  in  pictures  and  statues  ; 
and  yet  they  were  (after  some  royal  personages)  the  chief  patrons 
of  Rubens  and  Van  Dyck,  who  decorated  the  splendid  church  of 
their  Order  at  Antwerp. 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


29 


XII.   VOTIVE  PICTURES,  ANACHRONISMS,  Etc. 

There  are  large  numbers  of  what  are  known  as  votive  pictures, 
which  are  painted  in  fulfillment  of  a  vow,  in  gratitude  for  some 
signal  blessing,  or  to  avert  some  anticipated  danger.  Many  com- 
memorate a  recovery,  or  escape  from  sickness  or  accident.  The 
donor,  and  sometimes  his  entire  family,  are  seen  in  the  picture,  and 
are  frequently  represented  as  grouped  about  the  Madonna  and 
Child.  In  early  art,  the  donor  or  votary  was  represented  as  very 
diminutive,  to  express  humility,  but  in  later  times  they  appear  a 
natural  size.  The  figure  of  a  bishop  kneeling,  while  all  others 
stand,  signifies  that  he  is  the  person  who  presents  the  picture;  when 
he  stands  it  is  difl^icult  to  determine  who  he  may  be  ;  for  there  are 
hundreds  of  bishop-martyrs  and  patrons,  who  are  thus  represented. 

In  many  works  of  art,  there  is  an  apparent  anachronism  in  the 
choice  of  the  persons  represented  ;  as,  for  instance,  when  the  Virgin 
is  surrounded  by  those  who  lived  either  centuries  before  or  after  her- 
self. It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  such  pictures  were  not  intended 
to  represent  physical  facts,  but  are  devotional  ia  their  character  and 
meaning.  And  if  the  persons  represented  are  not  living,  they  know  no 
more  of  time  ;  for  them  it  no  longer  exists,  and  that  which,  at  a  care- 
less glance,  appears  to  be  the  result  of  ignorance  or  bad  taste,  is  in  fact 
a  spiritual  conception  of  the  "  communion  of  saints,"  who  belong  no 
more  to  earth.  When  thus  considered,  there  appears  no  incongru- 
ity in  these  representations,  of  which  the  Correggio  at  Parma  is  a 
good  illustration.  In  it,  St.  Jerome  presents  his  translation  of  the 
Scriptures  to  the  infant  Christ,  while  an  angel  turns  the  leaves,  and 
Mary  Magdalene  kisses  the  feet  of  Jesus.  Neither  is  the  grouping 
in  many  pictures  strictly  in  accordance  with  what  might  be  termed 
propriety.  The  Sibyls  dancing  around  the  cradle  of  Jesus,  and  the 
representations  of  Greek  poets  and  philosophers  in  ecclesiastical  art, 
is  explained  by  the  fact  that  everything  was  regarded  in  but  a  sin- 
gle aspect,  —  that  is,  in  its  relation  to  Christ  and  his  religion.  And 
all  those  who  had  preceded  Him  were  believed  to  have  foreshadowed 
Him,  and  prophesied  of  his  coming  ;  in  fact,  these  Greeks  sometimes 
bear  scrolls  inscribed  with  sentences  from  their  writings,  which  are 
interpreted  as  relating  to  the  Saviour.  In  the  examination  of  large 
numbers  of  religious  pictures,  chronology  should  be  entirely  forgot- 
ten, for  time  was  not  thought  of  ,in  their  arrangement,  and  many 
other  considerations  determined  the  artist  in  his  association  of  per- 
sons. Certain  saints  are  brought  together,  because  they  are  joint 
patrons  of  the  place  for  which  they  were  painted,  as  in  the  Vene- 
tian pictures  of  St.  Mark,  St.  George,  and  St.  Catherine.  Again, 
they  are  connected  by  the  same  attributes,  or  similar  events,  in  their 
lives,  as  is  the  case  with  St.  Roch  and  St.  Sebastian,  —  the  first  hav- 
ing tended  the  sick  who  suffered  from  the  plague,  and  the  last  being 
a  patron  against  it.     Or  they  were  friends  on  earth,  as  St.  Cyprian 


30 


SYMBOLISM  IN  ART. 


and  St.  Cornelius  ;  or  they  rest  together  in  death,  as  St.  Stephen 
and  St.  Laurence.  Some  of  these,  or  other  like  reasons,  which 
were  good  and  sufficient  to  the  minds  of  artists  and  their  patrons, 
always  explained  the  apparent  inconsistencies  of  these  pictures,  and 
were  perfectly  understood  in  the  age  to  which  they  belonged. 
Again,  some  saints  are  so  much  more  frequently  represented  than 
others,  as  to  occasion  surprise  and  remark.  This  may  be  explained 
in  part,  by  the  fact  that  some  saints  were  universal  patrons,  wor- 
shipped everywhere,  and  belonged  to  Christendom,  while  the  vener- 
ation for  others  was  confined  to  localities  or  Orders.  St.  George, 
St.  Sebastian,  St.  Christopher,  St.  Cosmo,  St.  Damian,  St.  Koch, 
St.  Nicholas,  St.  Catherine,  St.  Barbara,  St.  Margaret,  and  St. 
Ursula,  are  all  thus  considered. 

In  particular  schools  of  art  this  frequent  representation  of  cer- 
tain personages  is  governed  by  the  locality  in  which  they  were 
painted,  or  that  for  which  they  were  intended.  Florentine  artists 
would  introduce  St.  Donato  and  St.  Romulo  ;  a  Neapolitan,  St.  Janu- 
arius  ;  a  Frenchman,  St.  Denis,  etc.,  etc.,  or  as  in  an  existing  pic- 
ture, St.  Peter,  St.  Leonard,  St.  Martha,  and  St.  Mary  Magdalene, 
are  united  to  indicate  that  the  society  for  which  it  was  painted, 
redeemed  prisoners,  ransomed  slaves,  labored  for  the  poor,  and 
converted  the  fallen  and  sinful. 

Thus,  it  is  apparent  that  it  is  for  the  advantage  of  the  careful 
observer  to  consider,  that  however  bizarre  a  picture  may  appear, 
there  is  some  reason  for  its  arrangement,  which,  if  understood  and 
appeciated,  adds  meaning  to  it ;  helps  to  discern  its  intention  and 
sentiment,  and  shows  that  what  seems  at  first  to  be  the  result  of 
•chance,  or  an  ignorance  of  the  fitness  of  things,  is  in  truth  that  of 
deep  and  earnest  thought,  of  delicate  and  poetic  conceptions,  and 
a  lofty  desire  to  teach  grand  and  holy  truths,  as  well  as  to  give 
pleasure  and  delight  the  eye. 


Badge  of  the  Order  of  Mercy. 


LEGENDS  AND  STOEIES 

WHICH  HAVE  BEEN  ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


St.  Abbondio  was  born  at  Thessalonica.  He  was  the  fourth 
Bishop  of  Como,  in  the  time  of  Leo  1.  He  is  represented  in  the 
Cathedral  of  Como,  and  is  the  apostle  and  patron  saint  of  that 
portion  of  Italy. 

Abgarus,  King.  The  apocryphal  gospel  spoken  of  by  Euse- 
bius,  and  called  Christ  and  Abgarus,"  commences  with  "  A  Copy 
of  a  Letter  written  by  King  Abgarus  to  Jesus,  and  sent  to  Him  by 
Ananias,  his  Footman,  to  Jerusalem,  inviting  Him  to  Edessa."  This 
letter  commences  with  greetings  to  the  Saviour,  and  goes  on  to  urge 
Him  to  go  to  Edessa,  to  cure  the  king  of  a  serious  disease.  It  adds, 
My  city  is  indeed  small,  but  neat,  and  large  enough  for  us  both." 
Jesus  returned  an  answer,  that  He  could  not  go,  as  He  must  fulfill  his 
mission  at  Jerusalem,  but  promised  that  after  his  ascension  He  would 
send  a  disciple,  who  would  cure  the  king  and  give  life  to  him  and 
to  all  who  were  with  him.  This  account  ends  here  ;  but  up  to  the 
tenth  century,  there  were  a  variety  of  additions  made  to  it,  until 
then  it  had  assumed  the  following  form  :  "  Abgarus,  King  of  Edessa, 
suffering  from  the  twofold  infliction  of  gout  and  leprosy,  withdrew 
from  the  sight  of  men.  Ananias,  one  of  his  servants,  returning  from 
a  journey  to  Egypt,  tells  him  of  the  wonderful  cures  by  Christ,  of 
which  he  has  heard  in  Palestine.  In  the  hope  of  obtaining  relief, 
Abgarus  writes  to  Christ,  and  charges  Ananias,  who  was  not  only  a 
good  traveller  but  a  skillful  painter,  that  if  Christ  should  not  be  able 
to  come,  he  should  at  all  events  send  him  his  portrait.  Ananias 
finds  Christ  as  He  is  in  the  act  of  23erforming  miracles,  and  teaching 
the  multitude  in  the  open  air.  As  he  is  not  able  to  approach  Him 
for  the  crowd,  he  mounts  a  rock  not  far  off.  Thence  he  fixes  his 
eyes  upon  Christ,  and  begins  to  take  his  likeness.  Jesus,  who  sees 
him,  and  also  knows  in  spirit  the  contents  of  the  letter,  sends 
Thomas  to  bring  him  to  Him,  writes  his  answer  to  Abgarus,  and  gives 
it  to  him.  But  seeing  that  Ananias  still  lingers,  Jesus  calls  for 
water,  and  having  washed  his  face.  He  wipes  it  on  a  cloth,  on  which, 
by  his  divine  power,  there  remains  a  perfect  portrait  of  his  features  j 


32 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


this  He  gives  to  Ananias,  charging  him  to  take  it  to  Abgarus,  so  that 
his  longing  may  be  satisfied,  and  his  disease  cured  On  the  way 
Ananias  passes  by  the  city  of  Hierapolis,  but  remains  outside  the 
gates,  and  liides  the  holy  cloth  in  a  heap  of  freshly  made  bricks. 
At  midnight  the  inhabitants  of  Hierapolis  perceive  that  this  heap 
of  bricks  is  suiTounded  with  fire.  They  discover  Ananias,  and  be 
owns  the  supernatural  character  of  the  object  hidden  among  the 
bricks.  They  find,  not  only  the  miraculous  cloth,  but  more  still ; 
for,  by  a  mysterious  virtue,  a  brick  that  lay  near  the  cloth  has  re- 
ceived a  second  impress  of  the  Divine  image.  And,  as  no  fire  was 
discoverable,  except  the  light  that  proceeded  from  the  picture,  the 
inhabitants  kept  the  brick  as  a  sacred  treasure,  and  let  Ananias  go 
on  his  way.  He  gives  King  Abgarus  the  letter  and  the  cloth,  who 
is  immediately  healed."  This  last  legend  was  edited  by  the  Em- 
peror Constantine  Porphyrogenitus,  and  in  his  time  the  original  nap- 
kin was  at  Constantinople ;  two  others  at  Rome  and  Genoa,  while  a 
false  copy  had  been  sent  to  the  King  of  Persia.  The  brick,  too,  had 
remained  in  its  first  city,  but  had  furnished  images  to  other  cities. 
In  fact,  the  Roman  one  still  exists  in  the  Church  of  San  Silvestro. 
But  Constantine  has  given  a  third  version,  which  is  that  Christ,  on 
the  way  to  Calvary,  wiped  his  face  on  a  piece  of  linen  on  which  his 
impress  was  left,  and  gave  it  to  Thomas,  commanding  that  after  his 
ascension  Thaddeus  should  take  it  to  Abgarus  in  order  to  fulfill  the 
promise  which  Jesus  had  made.  This  was  done,  but  Thaddeus  first 
goes  to  the  house  of  a  Jew  in  Edessa,  determined  to  do  some  mir- 
acles which  shall  attract  the  attention  of  the  king.  And  he  heals 
the  sick,  until  Abgarus  hears  of  him  and  sends  for  him,  hoping  that 
he  is  the  disciple  whom  Christ  had  promised  him  should  come.  As 
Thaddeus  enters  the  room,  he  lifts  up  the  picture,  and  so  great  a 
light  proceeds  from  it,  that  Abgarus  springs  from  his  bed,  forgetting 
all  his  lameness,  and  goes  to  receive  the  picture.  He  touches  it  to 
his  head  and  limbs,  and  receives  strength.  The  leprosy  disappears 
except  from  his  forehead.  He  is  converted,  and  when  he  is  bap- 
tized, even  the  last  marks  of  the  leprosy  disappear.  Th's  legend  has 
been  often  represented  in  painting. 

St.  Achilleus  and  St.  Nereus.  These  are  Roman  saints,  and 
the  church  dedicated  to  them  is  near  the  Baths  of  Caracalla.  They 
were  chamberlains  of  Flavia  Domitilla.  They  persuaded  her  not 
to  marry  Aurellan,  the  son  of  the  consul,  to  whom  she  was  betrothed, 
because  he  was  an  idolator.  For  this  they  were  beheaded.  Flavia 
Domitilla  was  the  grand-niece  of  the  Emperor  Domitian.  Her  par- 
ents had  been  martyred  because  they  were  Christians.  She  also 
suffered  death  for  the  same  cause,  at  Terracina.  Nereus  and  Achil- 
leus are  represented  in  secular  habits,  standing  on  each  side  of  Do- 
mitilla. She  is  dressed  as  a  princess.  They  all  bear  palms.  May 
12. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


33 


St.  Adelaide  or  Alice  of  Germany  was  the  daughter  of 
Ralph  11.  of  Burgundy.  Her  father  died  when  she  was  six  years 
old,  and  at  sixteen  she  married  Lothaire,  King  of  Italy.  Her  hus- 
band did  not  live  long,  and  after  his  death  Adelaide  was  imprisoned 
at  Pavia,  by  Berengarius  III.  She  at  length  escaped,  and  fled  to- 
wards Germany.  She  was  met  by  the  Emperor  Otho  I.,  who  was 
marching  with  his  army  to  release  her.  Otho  made  a  treaty  with 
Berengarius,  and  married  Alice.  But  the  treaty  was  soon  broken, 
when  Otho  sent  Berengarius  a  prisoner  to  Germany,  and  he  himself 
was  crowned  emperor  at  Rome.  Adelaide  made  use  of  her  rank 
and  power  to  do  good,  and  educated  her  son  Otho  II.  with  care- 
fulness. The  emperor  died  after  a  reign  of  thirty-six  years  ;  and 
his  son  suffered  himself  to  be  influenced  by  evil  advisers,  and 
especially  by  his  second  wife,  Theophania,  so  thafc  he  banished 
his  good  mother  from  the  court.  But  being  overtaken  by  mis- 
fortune, he  recalled  her  and  attempted  to  atone  for  his  wicked 
cruelty.  He  died  after  a  reign  of  nine  years,  and  his  wife,  so  long  as 
she  lived,  insulted  St.  Adelaide  by  the  most  disrespectful  treatment ; 
but  she,  too,  soon  died,  and  Adelaide  became  regent.  From  this 
time  she  devoted  herself  to  good  works,  and  built  many  religious 
edifices.  The  people,  who  loved  her,  were  guided  by  her  into  vir- 
tue and  piety.  She  died  at  Salcis,  when  on  a  journey.  A  part  of 
her  relics  are  preserved  in  a  shrine  in  Hanover.  December  16, 
A.  D.  999. 

St.  Adelaide  was  the  wife  of  St.  Lupo,  and  the  mother  of  St. 
Grata,  who  together  with  St.  Alexander,  the  martyr,  are  saints 
belonging  especially  to  Bergamo,  the  last  two  being  the  patron 
saints  of  that  city.  St.  Grata,  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  be- 
came a  Christia^n,  and  converted  her  father,  who  was  Duke  of  Ber- 
gamo, and  her  mother,  St.  Adelaide,  to  the  same  faith.  Through 
the  influence  of  St.  Grata,  St.  Lupo  founded  the  Cathedral  at^  Ber- 
gamo. After  the  death  of  her  parents,  Gra^^a  governed  Bergamo, 
and  founded  three  churches  and  a  hospital,  where  she  herself  min- 
istered to  the  sick.  St.  Alexander  was  a  soldier  of  the  Theban  Le- 
gion, and  was  beheaded  outside  Bergamo.  Grata  wrapped  the  head 
in  a  napkin,  and  gave  honorable  burial  to  the  remains.  St.  Ade- 
laide is  represented  with  a  crown  and  a  long  veil,  St.  Lupo  with  a 
royal  crown,  St.  Alexander  as  a  Roman  warrior  with  a  palm,  and 
St.  Grata  as  carrying  the  head  of  Alexander. 

St.  Adrian  {Gr.Wy.  'ASptayos  ;  Lat.  Sanctus  Adrianus ;  Fr.  St. 
Adrien  ;  Ital.  Sant'  Adriano)  was  a  military  saint,  and  for  ages  was 
considered  next  to  St.  George  in  Northern  Europe.  In  the  North 
of  France,  Flanders,  and  Germany,  he  was  the  patron  saint  of  sol- 
diers, and  protector  against  the  plague.  He  is  also  the  patron  of 
Flemish  brewers.  He  was  a  noble  Roman,  son  of  Probus.  At  the 
time  of  the  tenth  persecution  of  the  Christians  at  Nicomedia,  a  city 
3 


34 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


of  Bithynia  (a.  d.  290),  he  served  in  the  guards  of  the  Emperor 
Galerius  Maximian.  He  was  less  than  thirty  years  old,  and  was 
married  to  Natalia,  who  was  a  Christian  secretly.  She  was  exceed- 
ingly virtuous  and  beautiful.  The  imperial  edict  was  torn  down 
by  St.  George,  which  so  infuriated  the  emperor  that  thirty-four 
Christians  were  sentenced  to  the  torture  at  one  time.  It  fell  by  lot 
to  Adrian  to  superintend  the  execution  of  the  sentence.  When  he 
saw  the  manner  in  which  the  Christians  suffered  for  their  faith,  he 
was  suddenly  converted,  and  seating  himself  in  their  midst,  ex- 
claimed, "  Consider  me  also  as  one  of  ye,  for  I,  too,  will  be  a  Chris- 
tian." He  was  immediately  imprisoned.  Natalia,  hearing  this,  was 
full  of  joy,  and,  going  to  him,  encouraged  him  to  suffer  for  Christ. 
Adrian  was  soon  condemned  to  die,  and  the  night  before  his  exe- 
cution, he  bribed  his  jailor  to  permit  him  to  visit  Natalia.  She, 
hearing  that  her  husband  had  left  his  prison,  was  in  great  sorrow, 
and  tearing  her  garments,  threw  herself  down,  saying,  "  Alas  !  mis- 
erable that  I  am  !  I  have  not  deserved  to  be  the  wife  of  a  martyr ! 
Now  will  men  point  at  me  and  say.  Behold  the  wife  of  the  coward 
and  apostate,  who,  for  fear  of  death,  hath  denied  his  God.'  But 
Adrian,  who  had  now  come,  hearing  these  words,  said,  "  O  thou 
noble  and  strong  hearted  woman  !  O,  bless  God  that  I  am  not  un- 
worthy of  thee  !  Open  the  door  that  I  may  bid  thee  farewell  before 
I  die."  Joyfully  she  opened  the  door  and  embraced  him,  and  re- 
turned to  prison  with  him.  The  next  day  Adrian  was  scourged  and 
tortured,  and  sent  back  to  prison.  The  tyrants,  hearing  of  the  de- 
votion of  Natalia,  ordered  that  no  woman  should  be  admitted  to  the 
prison.  She  then  cut  off  her  beautiful  hair,  and  dressed  as  a  man, 
and  so  gained  admission  to  Adrian.  She  found  him  torn  and  bleed- 
ing. She  took  him  in  her  arms,  and  said,  O  light  of  mine  eyes 
and  husband  of  mine  heart !  Blessed  art  thou,  who  art  called  to  suf- 
fer for  Christ's  sake  !  "  Thus  she  so  strengthened  his  heart  that  he 
was  able  to  endure  to  the  end.  The  next  day  his  limbs  were  struck 
off  on  an  anvil,  and  he  was  beheaded.  Natalia  supported  him  in 
his  sufferings,  and  he  expired  in  her  arms  before  the  last  blow. 
Kissing  him,  she  took  one  of  his  hands,  which  she  wrapped  in  linen 
with  spices  and  perfumes,  and  placed  it  at  the  head  of  her  bed. 
His  body  was  taken  by  Christians  to  Byzantium,  since  Constanti- 
nople. There  is  a  tradition  that  in  the  ninth  century  it  was  re- 
moved to  the  convent  which  bears  his  name,  at  Grammont,  in  Flan- 
ders. After  this  the  emperor  threatened  to  marry  Natalia  to  a 
tribune  of  the  army.  She  fled  to  Argyropolis,  near  Byzantium, 
and  passed  her  life  near  the  tomb  of  Adrian.  He  often  appeared 
to  her  in  visions,  and  asked  her  to  follow  him,  which  she  soon  did ; 
and  v/hen  she  died,  Adrian  with  rejoicing  angels  met  her,  and 
together  they  entered  the  presence  of  God.  An  anvil  is  the  at- 
tribute of  Adrian,  and  is  represented  at  his  feet,  or  in  his  hand. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


35 


His  sword  was  long  kept  as  a  relic,  at  Walbeck,  in  Saxony,  but  the 
Emperor  Henry  H.  (St.  Henry)  girded  it  on  himself,  when  pre- 
paring to  go  against  the  Turks  and  Hungarian^.     A.  D.  290. 

St.  Afra  was  the  daughter  of  St.  Hilaria,  and  is  the  patroness  of 
Augsburg.  She  was  for  a  long  time  a  courtesan  in  that  city,  and 
had  three  maidens  as  dissolute  as  herself,  —  Digna,  Eunomia,  and 
and  Eutropia.  At  length  Narcissus,  a  holy  man  fleeing  from  perse- 
cution, came  to  her  house,  not  knowing  her  character.  When  she 
found  he  was  a  priest,  she  was  overcome  with  fear,  and  for  the  first 
time  was  ashamed  of  her  life  of  sin.  He  told  her  of  Christ,  and  at 
length  she  besought  him  to  allow  her  to  be  baptized.  He,  know- 
ing that  Christ  did  not  reject  even  the  greatest  sinners,  baptized  her 
and  assured  her  of  forgiveness.  By  her  aid  Narcissus  escaped  to 
his  native  Spain.  Through  her  influence,  her  mother  and  the  three 
maidens  were  also  converted.  Afra  was  seized,  and  accused  of 
having  assisted  Narcissus  to  escape,  and  of  being  herself  a  Chris- 
tian. The  judge.  Gains,  who  had  known  of  her  former  life,  was 
amazed  at  her  modesty,  and  the  flrmness  with  which  she  acknowl- 
edged her  new  faith,  and  asked  her  how  one  so  vile  could  expect 
to  be  received  by  Jesus.  To  which  she  rej3lied,  "  It  is  true  I  am 
unworthy  to  bear  the  name  of  Christian  ;  nevertheless.  He  who  did 
not  reject  Mary  Magdalene,  when  she  washed  his  feet  with  her 
tears,  will  not  reject  me."  She  was  burned  alive,  and  as  she 
prayed  in  the  midst  of  the  fire,  angels  bore  her  spirit  to  heaven. 
Shortly  after,  her  mother  and  the  three  maidens  were  executed  for 
their  faith,  and  suffered  with  constancy.    August  5,  a.  d.  304. 

St.  Afra,  Patroness  of  Brescia,  is  supposed  to  have  been  of 
noble  family.  She  was  converted  by  the  works  of  San  Faustino  and 
San  Giovita  (Faustinus  and  Jovita),  and  suffered  martyrdom  with 
Calocerus.  The  church  dedicated  to  her  is  one  of  the  finest  orna- 
ments of  Brescia. 

St.  Agatha.  [Lat,  Sancta  Agatha ;  Fr.  Sainte  Agathe  ;  Ital. 
Santa  Agata ;  Ger.  Die  Heilige  Agatha.)  Virgin  and  martyr ; 
patroness  of  Malta  and  Catamia,  also  patroness  against  fire  and 
all  diseases  of  the  breast.  The  Emperor  Decius  strangled  his  pre- 
decessor, Philip,  and  desiring  to  make  it  appear  that  he  did  this  be- 
cause Philip  was  a  Christian,  and  not  for  his  own  advancement,  he 
instituted  great  persecutions  of  the  Christians  throughout  his  empire. 
He  made  Quintianus  king  of  Sicily.  Here,  at  Catania,  dwelt 
Agatha,  a  maiden  of  great  beauty,  whom  Quintianus  tempted  with 
presents,  flattery,  and  promises,  without  success.  He  then  gave  her  to 
Grondisia,  who  was  a  courtesan  with  nine  daughters,  all  as  wicked 
as  possible,  and  promised  her  great  riches  if  she  would  subdue 
Agatha  to  his  wishes.  Frondisia  attempted  to  influence  Agatha  by 
every  means  in  her  power,  for  thirty-three  days ;  but  she  remained 
fixed  in  her  purity,  and  her  fliith  in  Jesus.    At  the  end  of  that  time, 


36  LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 

Frondisia  said  to  Quintianus,  ^'  Sooner  shall  that  sword  at  thy  side 
become  like  liquid  lead,  and  the  rocks  dissolve  and  flow  like  w^ater, 
than  the  heart  of  this  damsel  be  subdued  to  thy  will."  Then  Quin- 
tianus in  fury  commanded  her  to  be  brought,  and  attempted  to 
move  her  by  threats  ;  but  she  said :  "  If  thou  shouldst  throw  me  to  the 
wild  beasts,  the  power  of  Christ  would  render  them  weak  as  lambs  ; 
if  thou  shouldst  kindle  a  fire  to  consume  me,  the  angels  would  quench 
it  with  their  dews  from  heaven ;  if  thou  shouldst  tear  me  with 
scourges,  the  Holy  Spirit  within  me  would  render  thy  tortures  harm- 
less.'* Then  the  tyrant  ordered  her  to  be  beaten,  and  her  bosom  to 
be  torn  with  shears.  After  that  she  was  thrown  into  a  dark  dun- 
geon. At  midnight  there  came  an  aged  man  bearing  a  vase  of  oint- 
ment, and  a  youth  with  a  torch.  It  was  St.  Peter  and  an  angel,  but 
Agatha  did  not  know  them  :  and  the  light,  which  filled  the  dungeon, 
so  frightened  the  guards  that  they  fled,  leaving  the  door  open.  Then 
one  said  to  the  maiden,  Arise  and  fly."  But  she  replied  :  "  God 
forbid  that  I  should  fly  from  my  crown  of  martyrdom,  and  be  the 
occasion  that  my  keepers  should  suffer,  for  my  flight,  tortures  and 
death  ;  I  will  not  fly."  Then  St.  Peter  healed  all  her  wounds  with 
celestial  ointment,  and  vanished  from  ber  sight.  The  rage  of  Quin- 
tianus not  being  satisfied,  he  sent  for  her  again,  and  was  aston- 
ished at  the  wonderful  cure  of  her  wounds.  "  Who  hath  healed 
thee  ?  "  asked  he  ;  she  replied,  "  He,  whom  I  confess  and  adore  with 
my  heart  and  with  my  lips,  hath  sent  his  apostle  and  healed  me,  and 
delivered  me."  Then  Quintianus  ordered  her  to  be  burned  ;  and  as 
she  was  thrown  in  the  fire,  a  great  earthquake  shook  the  city,  and  the 
people  ran  to  the  palace,  crying,  "  This  has  fallen  upon  us  because  of 
the  suflerings  of  this  Christian  damsel  ;  "  and  they  threatened  to  burn 
Quintianus,  if  he  did  not  desist.  So  he  ordered  her  to  be  taken  from 
the  flames,  and  she  was  borne  again  to  prison,  scorched,  and  in  great 
agony.  Here  she  entreated  God  to  release  her,  and  take  her  to 
heaven,  which  prajer  was  heard,  for  immediately  she  died.  The 
Christians  embalmed  her  body,  and  placed  it  in  a  tomb  of  porphyry. 
Near  to  Catania  is  a  volcano  which  the  people  call  Mongibello  (Mt. 
^tna),  and  about  a  year  after  the  death  of  Agatha  this  mountain 
opened  and  sent  forth  streams  of  fire.  When  the  fire  had  almost 
reached  the  city,  the  people  took  the  veil  of  Agatha  from  her  tomb, 
and,  placing  it  on  a  lance,  bore  it  in  procession  towards  the  fire, 
and  when  they  came  to  it  the  fire  was  stayed  and  the  city  saved. 
When  the  heathen  saw  this  miracle,  they  were  all  converted  and 
baptized.  There  is  in  Malta  a  subterranean  chapel  dedicated  to  St. 
Agatha.  It  is  cut  out  of  the  rock,  and  the  walls  are  frescoed.  Tra- 
dition teaches  that  the  ground  once  belonged  to  the  family  of  the 
saint.  St.  Agatha  is  usually  represented  with  a  palm  in  one  hand 
and  a  salver  in  the  other,  on  which  is  the  female  breast.  Sometimes 
the  shears  are  beside  her.  She  wears  a  long  veil.  February  5,  a.  d. 
251. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


37 


St.  Aglae  ((rr.  "Ay. 'AyXats)  was  a  Greek  by  birth,  and  lived 
with  her  lover,  Boniface,  in  sin  and  luxury  for  many  years.  In  the 
time  of  the  last  persecution  of  the  Christians,  they  were  both  con- 
victed of  their  sins,  and  became  followers  of  Christ.  Aglae  sent  Boni- 
face with  great  treasures,  to  assist  the  martyrs  and  to  bury  their  re- 
mains. In  his  zeal,  he  exposed  himself  and  suffered  martyrdom. 
His  body  was  brought  to  Aglse.  She  built  on  the  western  side  of 
the  Aventine  an  oratory,  where  she  placed  the  remains  of  Boniface, 
and  she  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  her  life  in 
prayers  and  penitence. 
May  14,  Boniface  died, 
about  307  ;  Aglge,  fifteen 
years  later. 

St.  Agnes.  {Lat. 
Sancta  Agnus.  Ital.  Sant' 
Agnese,  Sp,  Santa  Inez  ; 
Fr.  Ste.  Agnes.)  St. 
Agnes  was  a  Roman 
maiden  of  great  beauty, 
and  a  Christian  from  her 
infancy.  She  was  not 
more  than  thirteen  years 
old,  when  the  son  of  the 
prefect  Sempronius  saw 
her,  and  so  loved  her  that 
he  sought  her  for  his  wife. 
But  she  refused  his  re- 
quest, saying  that  she  was 
already  affianced  to  a 
husband  whom  she  loved, 
meaning  Jesus.  The 
young  man  knew  not  to 
whom  she  referred,  and 
his  jealousy  and  disap- 
pointed love  made  him 
sick,  almost  unto  death. 


Schoen.)  St.  Agnes. 


Then  the  physicians  said, This  youth  is  sick  of  unrequited  love,  and 
our  art  can  avail  nothing."  When  the  prefect  questioned  his  son, 
he  told  his  father  of  his  love  for  Agnes,  and  that,  unless  she  would 
be  his  wife,  he  must  die.  Then  Sempronius  begged  of  Agnes  and 
her  parents  that  she  should  marry  his  son;  but  she  replied,  as  before, 
that  she  preferred  her  betrothed  to  the  son  of  the  prefect.  When 
he  had  inquired  her  meaning,  and  found  that  she  was  a  Christian, 
he  was  glad,  for  there  was  an  edict  against  them,  and  he  felt  she  was 
in  his  power.   He  then  told  her  that  since  she  would  have  no  earthly 


S8 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


husband,  she  must  become  a  Vestal  Virgin.  But  she  refused  with 
scorn  the  worship  of  vain  images,  and  declared  that  she  would  serve 
none  but  Jesus.  Sempronius  then  threatened  her  with  the  most 
horrid  death,  and  put  her  in  chains,  and  dragged  her  to  the  altars  of 
the  gods.  But  she  remained  firm.  Then  he  ordered  her  to  be 
taken  to  a  house  of  infamy,  to  suffer  the  most  fearful  outrages.  The 
soldiers  stripped  off  her  garments  ;  but  when  she  prayed,  her  hair 
was  lengthened  till  it  was  as  a  cloak  about  her,  covering  her 
whole  person,  and  those  who  saw  her  were  seized  with  fear.  So 
they  shut  lier  in  a  room,  and  when  she  prayed  to  Christ  that  she 
might  not  be  dishonored,  she  saw  before  her  a  shining  white  garment, 
which  she  put  on  with  joy  and  the  room  was  filled  with  great 
light.  The  son  of  the  prefect,  thinking  she  must  be  subdued,  now 
came  to  her.  But  he  was  struck  blind,  and  fell  in  convulsions.  Ag- 
nes, moved  by  his  sufferings  and  the  tears  of  his  friends,  prayed  for 
his  recovery,  and  he  was  healed.  When  Sempronius  saw  this,  he 
wished  to  save  her  ;  but  the  people  said,  "  She  is  a  sorceress  :  let  her 
die."  So  she  was  condemned  to  be  burned,  but  the  flames  harmed 
her  not,  while  her  executioners  were  consumed  by  them.  Then  they 
cried  out  the  more,  "  She  is  a  sorceress  :  she  must  die."  Then  an 
executioner  was  commanded  to  ascend  the  pile,  and  kill  her  with 
the  sword.  This  he  did,  and  gazing  steadfastly  towards  heaven,  she 
fell  dead  upon  the  pile.  She  was  buried  on  the  Via  Nomentana,  and 
the  Christians  were  accustomed  to  visit  her  tomb  to  weep.  But  she 
appeared  to  them,  and  forbade  that  they  should  sorrow  for  one,  who 
was  happy  in  heaven.  St.  Agnes  is  a  favorite  saint  with  Roman 
women.  There  is  one  church  dedicated  to  her,  on  the  Piazza  Na- 
vona,  on  the  spot  where  stood  the  house  of  infamy  to  which  she  was 
carried ;  and  another  of  great  interest  beyond  the  Porta  Pi  a,  said 
to  have  been  built  by  Constantine,  at  the  request  of  his  daughter, 
Constantina,  to  commemorate  the  burial  place  of  St.  Agnes.  J^ext 
to  the  Evangelists  and  Apostles,  there  is  no  saint  whose  images  are 
older  than  those  of  St.  Agnes.  She  is  most  frequently  represented 
with  a  lamb.  January  21,  A.  d.  304.  She  wa-<  one  of  the  four  great 
virgin  martyrs  of  the  Latin  Church. 

St.  Agnes  of  Monte  Puleiano.  This  saint  was  remarkable  for 
her  piety  from  her  very  infancy.  At  nine  years  of  age  she  was 
placed  in  a  nunnery,  and  at  fifteen  was  made  abbess  of  a  new  con- 
vent at  Procino,  of  the  Dominican  Order.  She  slept  on  the 
ground  with  a  stone  pillow,  and  lived  on  bread  and  water  for  fifteen 
years,  until  she  was  obliged  to  diminish  her  austerities  on  account 
of  her  health.  At  length  the  people  of  Monte  Puleiano,  being 
desirous  that  she  should  return  to  her  native  town,  built  a  convent 
on  a  spot  where  they  had  destroyed  a  lewd  house,  of  which  St. 
Agnes  became  the  superior.  She  had  the  gifts  of  miracles  and 
prophecy,  and  was  greatly  beloved.    St.  Catherine  of  Siena  made  a 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


39 


pilgrimage  to  the  tomb  of  St.  Agnes  with  two  of  her  nieces,  who 
took  the  veil  on  that  occasion.  She  is  greatly  venerated  in  Tuscany. 
April  20,  A.  D.  1317. 

St.  Alban  was  the  first  saint  and  martyr  in  England,  on  which 
account  the  Abbot  of  St.  Alban's  had  precedence  over  all  others. 
This  saint  was  a  native  of  Verulam.  He  lived  in  the  time  of 
Aurelian,  and  went  to  Rome.  While  an  idolater  he  was  noted  for 
his  hospitality,  charity,  and  many  virtues,  as  well  as  great  learning. 
When  the  persecution  of  Diocletian  invaded  Britain,  a  priest  found 
shelter  with  St.  Alban,  who  was  the  means  of  his  conversion,  and 
baptized  him.  When  the  priest  was  pursued  to  his  house,  St. 
Alban  put  on  his  long  robe  and  gave  himself  to  the  soldiers  to  save 
his  guest.  He  was  condemned  to  death,  as  he  would  not  worship 
idols  nor  surrender  the  priest.  He  was  first  tortured,  and  then  led 
out  for  execution.  It  was  necessary  to  cross  the  river  Coin  to  reach 
the  place  where  he  was  to  suffer.  The  crowd  was  large,  and  the 
bridge  so  narrow  that  they  could  not  pass  ;  but  when  the  saint  said 
a  short  prayer,  the  waters  were  divided,  and  all  went  over  dry-shod. 
When  on  the  hill  of  execution,  he  prayed  for  water  to  quench  his 
thirst  and  a  spring  gushed  out  at  his  feet.  Pie  was  beheaded.  His 
burial  place  was  forgotten,  and  disclosed  in  793  by  a  miracle.  An 
angel  commanded  King  OfFa  in  a  vision  that  he  should  find  the 
remains  of  this  saint,  and  secure  to  them  the  veneration  of  the 
people.  He  found  them  at  Yerulam,  and  built  a  church  for  them, 
near  which  arose  a  great  Benedictine  monastery  and  the  town  of 
St.  Alban's  in  Hertfordshire.  His  attributes  are  the  sword  and  a 
fountain  springing  at  his  feet.    June  22,  A.  d.  305. 

St.  Albert  (Lat.  Sanctus  Albertus;  Ital.  Sant'  Alberto)  was 
Bishop  of  Yercelli  and  Patriarch  of  Jerusalem.  He  is  reverenced 
as  the  founder  of  the  Order  of  the  Carmelites.  He  was  murdered 
at  Acre,  when  embarking  to  attend  a  council  at  Rome.  On  the 
cathedral  at  Cremona,  is  a  vessel  in  which,  tradition  says,  St.  Albert 
kneaded  bread  for  the  poor.  He  is  represented  in  his  episcopal 
robes,  and  carries  the  palm. 

Albertus  Magnus,  sometimes  called  Sant'  Alberto  Magno,  was 
a  teacher  of  St.  Thomas  Aquinas,  and  is  represented  in  art  in 
company  with  that  saint. 

St.  Alexander  {ItaL  Sant'  Alessandro ;  Fi\  St.  Alexandre). 
See  St.  Adelaide.    March  18,  A.  d.  251. 

St.  Alexis  (Lat.  S.  Aletius  ;  Ital.  Sant'  Alessio  ;  Fr.  St.  Alexis  ; 
Ger  Der  Heilige  Alexius).  In  the  time  of  Pope  Innocent  I.  and 
the  Emperor  Honorius,  there  lived  on  the  Coeliaa  Hill  a  man  of 
great  rank  and  wealth  named  Euphemian.  His  wife  was  called 
Aglse.  For  many  years  they  had  no  child,  and  on  this  account 
prayed  earnestly  to  God,  until  at  length  they  had  a  son,  whom  they 
called  Alexis.    From  his  childhood  he  devoted  himself  to  the  ser- 


40 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


vice  of  God,  and  wore  beneath  his  rich  clothing  a  shirt  of  hair,  and 
when  in  his  own  chamber  bewailed  his  sins,  and  those  of  the  whole 
world,  and  made  a  vow  to  serve  God  alone.  At  length  Euphemian 
selected  a  beautiful  maiden  of  noble  rank  to  be  the  wife  of  Alexis. 
When  he  saw  the  loveliness  of  his  bride  and  remembered  his  vow, 
he  trembled.  He  did  not  dare  to  disobey  his  father,  and  the  wed- 
ding was  celebrated  with  great  pomp.  Then  Alexis  went  to  the 
chamber  of  his  bride,  and  gave  her  a  gold  ring,  a  girdle  of  precious 
stones,  and  a  purple  veil,  and  bade  her  farewell,  and  was  seen  no 
more.  His  mother  and  his  wife  passed  their  time  in  the  deepest 
grief,  while  his  father  sent  through  all  the  world  to  find  him. 
Alexis,  disguised  as  a  pilgrim,  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Tiber  in  a 
small  boat,  and  sailed  from  Ostia  for  Laodicea.  From  there  he 
went  to  Edessa  in  Mesopotamia,  where  he  dwelt,  ministering  to  the 
poor  and.  si(^k,  until  the  people  called  him  a  saint.  Fearing  this  flat- 
tery, he  sailed  for  Tarsus  to  pay  his  devotions  to  St.  Paul.  But  the 
vessel  in  a  storm  was  driven  to  Ostia.  So  then  Alexis  went  to  his 
father's  house,  and  begged  that  he  might  live  upon  his  charity.  Eu- 
phemian, not  recognizing  him,  thouglit  upon  his  son,  that  he  too  might 
be  poor  and  in  need,  and  gave  orders  that  he  should  be  provided  for. 
But  the  servants  ill-treated  him,  and  gave  him  no  lodging  but  a 
hole  under  the  marble  steps  of  the  house.  But  the  hardest  thing 
he  had  to  endure  was  to  hear  his  wife  and  mother  constantly 
lamenting  for  him  and  upbraiding  his  absence.  By  this  was  he 
sorely  tempted,  but  he  yielded  not.  Thus  passed  many  years,  till 
at  length  he  knew  that  he  must  die.  Then  he  asked  for  pen  and 
ink,  and  wrote  an  account  of  all  his  life,  and  put  it  in  his  bosom. 
Now  on  a  feast  day,  as  Innocent  was  reading  high  mass  before 
Honorius,  and  Euphemian  was  standing  by  the  emperor,  a  voice 
cried  out,  "  Seek  the  servant  of  God,  who  is  about  to  depart  from 
this  life,  and  who  shall  pray  for  Rome,"  And  the  people  fell  on 
their  faces,  and  another  voice  said,  Where  shall  we  seek  him  ?  " 
And  the  answer  was,  "  In  the  house  of  Euphemian  the  patrician." 
So  they  all  went  instantly,  and  Euphemian  led  the  way  ;  and  as  he 
came  near  home,  they  told  him  that  the  beggar  had  died,  and  they 
had  laid  him  on  the  steps  before  the  door.  When  he  uncovered 
the  face,  it  was  as  the  face  of  an  angel,  and  a  great  glory  of  light 
shone  from  it.  Then  he  said,  "  This  is  the  servant  of  God,  of 
whom  the  voice  spoke  just  now."  And  the  pope  took  the  letter 
from  the  dead  hand  of  Alexis,  and  read  it  aloud.  The  father  was 
overwhelmed  with  grief  The  wife  and  mother  rushed  out  and 
threw  themselves  on  the  dead  body.  Seven  days  they  watched 
beside  it,  and  many  sick  and  infirm  were  healed  by  touching  the 
sacred  remains  of  Alexis.  He  is  the  patron  of  pilgrims  and  beggars, 
and  on  the  spot  where  stood  his  father's  house  is  now  the  Church  of 
St.  Alexis.    The  marble  steps  beneath  which  he  lived  and  died, 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


41 


are  preserved  in  the  church  ;  and  a  statue  of  the  saint,  in  the  dress 
of  a  pilgrim  with  a  staff  beside  him,  and  a  letter  in  his  hand,  is 
extended  beneath  them.    July  17,  a.  d.  400. 

St.  Alphege  was  an  English  nobleman.  He  was  a  most  holy 
man,  and  Avas  made  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  in  1006.  Six  years 
later  the  Danes  took  the  city  and  Cathedral  of  Canterbury.  They 
put  the  people  to  death  and  burned  the  city.  St.  Alphege  was  kept 
seven  months  in  prison,  and  then  stoned  to  death  because  he  refused 
to  pay  a  large  ransom  for  his  life.  The  place  where  he  met  his 
death  was  at  Greenwich,  and  the  same  as  that  on  which  the  parish 
church  now  stands.  It  is  said  that  ten  years  after  death  his  body 
was  found  entire  and  incorrupt.  It  was  removed  from  St.  Paul's 
to  the  Canterbury  Cathedral  and  enshrined  near  the  high  altar.  He 
is  represented  with  his  chasuble  full  of  stones.  April  19,  a.  d. 
1012. 

St.  Ambrose  {Lat.  S.  Ambrosius ;  Ital.  Sant'  Ambrogio ;  Fr. 
St.  Ambrose;  Ger.  Der  Heilige  Ambrosius).  St.  Ambrose  was  one 
of  the  Latin  fathers  of  the  church.  He  was  born  at  Treves,  A. 
D.  340,  and  was  a  son  of  a  prefect  of  Gaul  of  the  same  name. 
He  studied  at  Kome,  and  being  at  length  appointed  prefect  of 
Emilia  and  Liguria  (Piedmont  and  Genoa),  he  resided  at  Milan. 
He  was  very  eloquent,  and  the  same  story  that  is  told  of  Plato  and 
Archilochus  is  told  of  him,  namely,  that  when  an  infant  in  his  cra- 
dle a  swarm  of  bees  alighted  on  his  mouth  without  injuring  him. 
This  was  thought  to  indicate  his  future  eloquence.  Shortly  after 
his  going  to  Milan,  the  bishop  died,  and  a  great  dispute  arose 
between  the  Catholics  and  Arians  concerning  the  succession, 
when  Ambrose  by  his  eloquence  quieted  them.  In  the  midst 
of  it  a  voice  like  that  of  a  child  cried  out,  "  Ambrose  shall  be 
bishop."  To  this  he  greatly  objected,  especially  as  he  had  never 
been  baptized.  But  the  people  would  not  listen  to  this  refusal,  and 
Deing  baptized,  in  eight  days  he  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Milan. 
He  first  gave  all  his  property  to  the  poor,  and  then  devoted  himself 
to  such  studies  as  would  fit  him  for  his  office.  The  two  favorite 
doctrines  of  St.  Ambrose  were  celibacy  for  both  sexes,  and  the 
supremacy  of  the  church  above  all  other  powers.  He  had  no  fear 
of  man,  forbidding  even  the  Emperor  Theodosius  to  enter  the 
church  until  he  had  atoned  for  his  sins  by  public  penance.  He 
founded  the  Basilica  of  Sant'  Ambrogio  Maggiore  at  Milan  in  387, 
and  dedicated  it  to  all  the  saints.  He  is  the  patron  saint  of  Milan. 
There  are  many  wonderful  and  miraculous  circumstances  related  in 
his  life,  and  at  his  death  it  was  said  that  Christ  visited  liim,  and 
that  he  ascended  to  heaven  in  the  arms  of  angels.  He  is  repre- 
sented as  a  mitred  bishop  with  the  crosier;  sometimes  a  beehive 
at  his  feet ;  but  his  usual  attribute  is  a  knotted  scourge  with  three 
thongs.    April  4,  a.  d.  397. 


42 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES. 


St.  Anastasia  {Fr.  Ste.  Anastasie  ;  Gr,  "Ay.  ' Kvao-rao-irj).  Just 
under  the  Palatine  Hill  is  the  cliurch  dedicated  to  this  sahit,  who, 
while  she  has  great  fame  in  the  Greek  Church,  was  a  Roman  lady. 
She  was  condemned  to  the  flames  in  the  persecution  of  Diocletian. 
She  suffered  greatly  at  the  hands  of  her  husband  and  family  be- 
cause she  openly  professed  Christianity.  St.  Chrysogonus  (Griso- 
gono)  is  chiefly  celebrated  for  his  influence  over  Anastasia  and  the 
courage  with  which  he  inspired  her.  He  was  slain  by  the  sword 
and  thrown  into  the  sea.  They  are  said  to  have  suffered  at  Illyria, 
but  Anastasia  was  buried  by  Apolllna,  in  her  garden,  near  the  Cir- 
cus Maximus,  where  her  church  now  stands.  It  is  said  that  St. 
Jerome  once  celebrated  mass  in  this  church.  There  is  also  a  beau- 
tiful church  at  Verona  dedicated  to  St.  Anastasia.  The  Church  of 
Chrysogonus  in  the  Trastevere,  built  in  599,  was  rebuilt  in  1623  by 
Scipio  Borghese,  Cardinal  of  San  Grisogono.  December  25,  A.  D.  304. 

St.  Andrea  of  Corsini  was  born  in  1302.  He  was  of  the  Corsini 
family  of  Florence.  He  was  extremely  wild  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  old,  when  his  mother,  in  despair,  told  him  of  a  dream  which 
she  had  before  his  birth,  in  which  she  dreamed  of  giving  birth  to  a 
wolf ;  but  this  wolf  on  entering  a  church  was  changed  to  a  lamb. 
This  greatly  affected  Andrea,  and  he  went  to  a  Carmelite  church  to 
pray,  where  such  a  change  was  begun  in  him,  that  at  seventeen  he 
became  a  friar.  He  was  BishojD  of  Fiesole. 
The  Florentines  attributed  to  the  protection  of 
this  saint  their  victory  of  the  battle  of  Anghi- 
ari.    February  4,  A.  d.  1373. 

St.  Andrew  {Lat.  S.  Andreas ;  Ital.  Sant. 
Andrea;  Fr.  St.  Andre;  Gr."Ay,  'AvSpeas)- 
St.  Andrew  Avas  the  first  to  be  called  to  be 
an  apostle.  He  was  the  brother  of  Simon  Peter. 
Very  little  is  said  of  him  in  Scripture.  The 
legends  teach  that  he  travelled  into  Scythia, 
Cappadocia,  and  Bithynia,  and  converted  multi- 
tudes by  his  preaching.  The  Russians  believe 
that  he  preached  to  the  Muscovites  in  Sarmatia. 
He  returned  to  Jerusalem,  and  after  visiting 
Greece  came  to  Patras,  a  city  of  Achaia.  Here, 
among  many  others  he  converted  Maximilla, 
wife  of  ^geus,  the  proconsul.  He  also  per- 
suaded her  to  make  a  public  confession,  which 
so  enraged  her  husband,  that  he  condemned 
St.  Andrew  to  be  scourged  and  crucified.  There 
is  a  variety  of  opinions  as  to  the  form  of  the 
cross  on  which  he  suffered,  but  the  one  called 
by  his  name  is  generally  believed  to  be  like 
that  on  which  he  died.    It  is  said  that  he  was  fastened  with  cords 


(Peter  Visclier.) 
St.  Andrew. 


fLLUSTRATED  IN  ART.  43 

rather  than  nails.  AYlien  he  approached  his  cross,  he  adored  it  as 
having  been  sanctified  by  Jesus.  He  was  gloriously  triumphant  in 
his  death.  In  the  fourth  century,  a  part  of  the  relics  of  St.  Andrew 
were  taken  to  Scotland,  since  when  he  has  been  the  patron  saint  of 
that  country  and  of  its  first  order  of  knighthood.  He  is  the  patron 
of  the  Order  of  the  Golden  Fleece  of  Burgundy,  as  well  as  of  Russia, 
and  its  great  order  of  the  Cross  of  St.  Andrew.  He  is  represented 
leaning  on  his  cross,  the  Gospel  in  his  hand  ;  his  hair  and  beard  are 
silvery  white  and  his  beard  divided.    November  30,  A.  D.  70. 

St.  Angelus,  the  Carmelite,  came  from  the  East,  and  preached 
in  Palermo  and  Messina.  There  was  a  certain  Count  Berenger  who 
led  an  openly  shameful  life  with  his  own  sister.  Being  rebuked  by 
Angelo,  he  commanded  him  to  be  hung  upon  a  tree  and  shot  with 
arrows.  The  legend,  and  in  fact  the  very  existence  of  this  saint, 
has  been  disputed,  but  pictures  said  to  represent  him  are  seen  at 
Bologna.    May  5,  A.  D.  1225. 

St.  Anianus,  or  Annianus.  In  the  Acts  of  St.  Mark  we  are 
told  that  this  saint  was  a  shoemaker  whom  St.  Mark  healed  when 
he  first  entered  the  city  of  Alexandria.  He  became  so  zealous  a 
convert,  and  learned  so 
rapidly  that  St.  Mark 
made  him  bishop  dur- 
ing his  absence.  He 
governed  the  church  at 
Alexandria  four  years 
with  St.  Mark,  and 
eighteen  years  after  his 
death.  There  was  a 
church  in  that  city  ded- 
icated to  him.  April  25, 
A.  D.  86. 

St.  Anna,  the  mother 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
v/hose  name  signifies 
gracious,  is  much  hon- 
ored in  the  Church,  and 
numerous  miracles  have 
been  attributed  to  her. 
About  550,  Justinian  I. 
built  a  church  at  Con- 
stantinople, and  dedi- 
cated it  to  St.  Anna. 
Her  body  was  removed 

from   Palestine   to  Con-  ^^^^  seated  with  the  Virgin  and  Child. 

stantinople  in  710.    July  26.     See  St.  Joachim. 

St.  Ansano  of  Siena.   This  saint  was  a  Roman,  Ansanus  Tran- 


44 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


quillinus.  His  nurse,  a  Christian  woman,  named  Maxima,  had  him 
secretly  baptized.  His  faith  was  not  disclosed  until  he  was  nine- 
teen years  old,  when  he  began  to  preach  with  great  success.  He 
suffered  much  during  the  persecution  of  Diocletian,  and  was  at  last 
beheaded  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Arbia.  St.  Ansano  was,  until  the 
end  of  the  thirteenth  century,  the  great  patron  of  Siena,  and  there 
is  in  the  Duomo  of  that  city  a  fine  statue  representing  him  as  bap- 
tizing the  Sienese  converts. 

St.  Anthony  {ltd.  Sant'  Antonio  Abbate,  or  I'Eremita ;  Fr, 
St.  Antoine  I'Abbe ;  Ger.  Der  Heilige  Anton  or  Antonius).  St. 
Anthony,  an  Egyptian,  was  born  at  Alexandria.  At  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  was  left  an  orphan,  with  one  sister.  He  had  great 
rank  and  wealth.  Thoughtful  from  childhood,  he  feared  the  tempta- 
tions of  the  world.  Entering  a  church  one  day,  he  heard  these 
words  :  "  Every  one  that  hath  forsaken  houses,  or  brethren,  or  sisters, 
or  father,  or  mother,  or  wife,  or  children,  or  lands,  for  my  name's 
sake,  shall  receive  a  hundred-fold,  and  shall  inherit  everlasting 
life ; and  at  another  time,  "  If  thou  wilt  be  perfect,  go  and  sell  all 
thou  hast,  and  give  to  the  poor,  and  thou  shalt  have  treasure  in 
heaven."  He  was  so  impressed  by  these  things  that  he  took  them 
as  a  warning  from  God.  He  divided  his  wealth  with  his  sister,  and 
gave  all  his  share  to  the  poor,  and  joined  a  company  of  hermits  in 
the  desert.  Here  he  lived  so  pure  a  life  as  to  arouse  the  hatred  of 
Satan,  who  sent  demons  to  tempt  and  torment  him.  They  whispered 
to  him  of  all  he  had  left  behind,  and  pictured  before  his  mind  the 
attractions  of  the  world.  But  he  prayed  until  great  drops  stood  on 
his  brow,  and  the  demons  despaired.  They  then  placed  delicious 
food  before  him,  and,  assuming  the  forms  of  lovely  women,  tempted 
him  to  sin.  Again  he  resisted  all  their  arts  with  prayer ;  but  he 
suffered  so  much  that  he  determined  to  go  yet  farther  into  the  des- 
ert, and  he  found  a  cave  where  he  thought  Satan  could  not  discover 
him.  But  here  the  demons  came  and  tortured  him  with  all  kinds  of 
horrible  pains,  and  tore  him  with  their  claws,  till  a  hermit  who  car- 
ried him  food,  found  him  lying  as  if  dead.  He  bore  him  to  his  cell, 
but  as  soon  as  Anthony  revived,  he  insisted  upon  returning  to  his  cave, 
and  when  there,  he  cried  out,  "  Ha  !  thou  arch  tempter  !  didst  thou 
think  I  had  fled  ?  Lo,  here  I  am  again  ;  I,  Anthony !  I  have  strength 
to  combat  still !  "  Then  was  Satan  furious,  and  he  set  his  demons 
to  try  all  their  powers  to  overcome  him.  They  surrounded  him 
with  lions,  tigers,  serpents,  scorpions,  and  all  the  horrible  shapes 
they  could  conceive,  and  they  were  roaring  and  hissing  all  around 
him.  But  in  the  midst  of  all  this  came  a  great  light  from  heaven, 
and  the  beasts  vanished ;  while  Anthony,  looking  up,  cried  out,  "  O 
Lord  Jesus  Christ !  where  wert  Thou  in  those  moments  of  anguish  ? 
And  Christ  said  gently,  Anthony,  I  v>^as  here  beside  thee,  and 
rejoiced  to  see  thee  contend  and  overcome.    Be  of  good  heart ;  for 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


45 


I  will  make  thy  name  famous  through  all  the  world."  Then  he  re- 
solved to  go  even  farther  into  the  desert.  As  he  travelled  he  saw 
heaps  of  gold  and  silver,  but  he  knew  they  were  the  temptations  of 
Satan  ;  and  when  he  looked  away,  they  disappeared  in  the  air.  He 
was  now  thirty-five  years  old,  when  he  shut  himself  in  a  cavern  for 
twenty  years,  and  saw  no  one,  neither  was  he  seen  of  any ;  but 
when  he  came  forth,  all  could  see  that  he  had  been  miraculously 
sustained,  for  he  was  not  wasted  or  changed,  except  that  his  hair 
was  white  and  his  beard  long.  And  now  he  preached  the  love  of 
God  to  all  men ;  comforted  the  sick  and  afflicted,  and  expelled  de- 
mons, over  whom  he  had  gained  great  power.  Multitudes  were 
converted  and  came  to  the  desert,  until  there  were  five  thousand 
hermits  in  the  caves  and  ancient  tombs,  and  St.  Anthony  did  many 
miracles.  At  length,  when  he'  had  lived  in  the  desert  seventy-five 
years,  he  began  to  be  proud  of  his  life  of  self-denial,  and  a  voice 
said  to  him  in  a  vision,  "  There  is  one  holier  than  thou  art,  for  Paul 
the  hermit  has  served  God  in  solitude  and  penance  for  ninety 
years."  So  he  resolved  to  seek  Paul ;  and  as  he  journeyed  he  met 
a  centaur,  who  pointed  the  way  to  him ;  and  again  a  satyr,  who 
besought  him  to  pray  for  him  and  his  people.  The  third  day  he 
came  to  the  cave  of  Paul.  At  first  Paul  would  not  receive  him,  but 
at  length,  moved  by  his  prayers  and  tears,  he  admitted  him.  Then 
they  held  communion  together ;  and  as  they  sat,  a  raven  brought 
them  a  loaf  of  bread,  when  Paul  blessed  God  and  said,  "  For  sixty 
years,  every  day,  hath  this  raven  brought  me  half  a  loaf ;  but  be- 
cause thou  art  come,  my  brother,  lo !  the  portion  is  doubled,  and  we 
are  fed  as  Elijah  was  fed  in  the  wilderness."  And  they  ate  and 
returned  thanks.  Then  Paul  said,  "  My  brother !  God  hath  sent 
thee  here  that  thou  mightest  receive  my  last  breath,  and  bury  me. 
Go,  return  to  thy  dwelling ;  bring  here  the  cloak  which  was  given 
to  thee  by  that  holy  Bishop  Athanasius,  wrap  me  in  it,  and  lay  me 
in  the  earth."  Then  Anthony  wondered,  for  the  gift  of  the  cloak 
w^as  unknown  to  all.  But  he  kissed  Paul,  and  hastened  to  bring  the 
cloak,  for  he  feared  he  should  not  reach  him  again  before  his  death. 
Returning,  when  he  was  about  three  hours  from  his  cave,  he  heard 
heavenly  music,  and,  looking  up,  saw  the  spirit  of  Paul,  as  a  star, 
borne  by  prophets,  apostles,  and  angels,  to  heaven.  Then  Anthony 
lamented,  and  went  with  haste  to  the  cave  Avhere  Paul  was  dead,  in 
the  attitude  of  prayer.  Then  he  wept  over  him  and  recited  the 
offices  for  the  dead,  and  he  thought  how  he  could  bury  him,  for  he 
had  not  strength  to  dig  a  grave.  Then  came  two  lions  across  the 
desert,  roaring,  as  if  in  sympathy,  and  with  their  paws  they  dug  a 
grave,  in  which  Anthony  laid  Paul,  wrapped  in  the  cloak  of  Atha- 
nasius. When  he  had  returned  to  the  convent,  he  told  all  these 
things,  which  were  believed  by  the  whole  church,  and  Paul  was 
made  a  saint.    Fourteen  years  after,  Anthony,  being  one  hundred 


46 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


and  four  years  old,  felt  that  he  must  soon  die ;  and  after  going  to  a 
lonely  place  with  a  few  brethren,  he  charged  them  that  they  should 
keep  secret  the  place  of  his  burial.  Gently  his  spirit  passed  away, 
and  angels  conveyed  it  to  heaven.  St.  Anthony  is  represented 
with  various  attributes.  He  wears  a  monk's  habit,  as  the  founder 
of  Monachism.  In  Greek  pictures  the  letter  T.  is  on  the  cope  on 
the  left  shoulder,  and  always  in  blue.  It  is  the  first  letter  of  0€o^, 
God.  The  crutch  is  a  symbol  of  his  age  and  feebleness.  The  bell 
signifies  his  power  to  exorcise  evil  spirits,  as  the  sound  of  a  bell  is 
believed  to  overcome  demons.  The  asperges,  or  rod  for  sprinkling 
holy  water,  is  a  symbol  of  the  same  idea.  The  hog  represents  the 
sensuality  and  appetites  which  he  conquered.  Flames  of  fire  un- 
der his  feet,  or  a  city  or  house  burning,  signify  that  he  is  a  patron 
against  fire,  in  this  Avorld  and  the  next  also.  Paul  is  represented 
as  old,  meagre,  half  clothed  in  palm-leaves,  his  hair  long  and  white, 
seated  on  a  rock  in  meditation,  and  a  palm-tree  near  him.  St.  An- 
thony, January  17,  A.  D.  357. 


(  Pesillino.  )   Florence  Academy. 

St.  Antony  of  Padua  {Lat.  Sanctus  Antonius  Thaumatur- 
gus ;  Ital.  Sant'  Antonio  di  Padova,  II  Santo  ;  Sp.  San  Antonio 
de  Padua,  Sol  brillante  de  la  Iglesia,  Gloria  de  Portugal,  etc.,  etc.). 
This  saint  was  a  Portuguese  by  birth.  He  became  a  Franciscp.n, 
and  stands  in  that  Order  next  to  its  founder.  After  the  martyrdom 
of  the  first  missionaries  in  Morocco,  Antony  determined  to  be  him- 
self a  missionary  and  martyr,  and  went  to  convert  the  Moors.  But 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


47 


he  was  seized  with  an  illness  that  compelled  him  to  return  to  Eu- 
rope. He  was  driven  by  the  winds  to  Italy,  and  came  to  Assisi, 
where  St.  Francis  was  holding  the  first  chapter  of  his  Order.  St. 
Francis  found  him  a  valuable  assistant,  and  he  preached  at  the 
universities  of  Padua,  Bologna,  Paris,  and  Toulouse,  but  at  length 
he  preached  to  the  people.  He  did  much  good  in  Italy  as  a 
preacher.  His  imagination  was  vivid  and  his  language  effective. 
His  similes  were  very  beautiful.  He  died  at  thirty-six,  after  a 
ministry  of  ten  years.  Great  honors  have  been  paid  his  memory, 
and  the  Church  of  Sant'  Antonio  at  Padua  is  wonderfully  rich  in 
adornments  of  both  ancient  and  modern  art.  He  performed  many 
miracles,  which  are  represented  in  pictures  in  various  churches  and 
convents,  especially  in  Italy  and  Spain.  One  of  these,  which  is  rep- 
resented in  the  accompanying  picture,  is  thus  related.  When 
preaching  the  funeral  sermon  of  a  very  rich  man,  he  denounced  his 
love  of  money  and  exclaimed,  "  His  heart  is  buried  in  his  treas- 
ure-chest; go  seek  it  there,  and  you  will  find  it."  The  friends 
of  the  man  broke  open  the  chest,  and  to  their  surprise  found  the 
heart ;  they  then  examined  his  body  and  found  that  his  heart  was 
indeed  wanting.  His  attributes  are  the  lily  and  crucifix.  He  is 
young,  and  wears  the  habit  and  cord  of  St.  Francis.  June  13, 
A.  D.  1231. 

St.  Antonio,  Archbishop  of  Florence,  was  a  native  of  Florence. 
He  was  born  about  1384.  His  thoughtfulness  and  studiousness 
caused  his  friends  to  regard  him  as  fitted  for  a  religious  life. 
He  went  to  Fiesole  and  asked  admission  to  the  Dominican  Convent 
at  fifteen.  The  prior,  after  talking  with  him,  told  him  that  when  he 
had  learned  perfectly  the  Book  of  Decrees,  he  would  receive  him. 
This  he  did  in  one  year,  and  then  was  sent  to  Cortona  to  pass  his 
novitiate  in  study.  He  took  his  vows  at  Fiesole,  and  there  formed 
a  tender  attachment  to  the  wonderful  painter-monk,  Fra  Giovanni, 
called  II  Beato  and  Angelico.  It  is  believed  that  the  great  learning 
of  Antonio  was  of  advantage  to  the  heavenly  mind  of  Angelico, 
and  that  their  communion  was  not  without  its  effects  upon  his  pic- 
tures. The  Archbishop  of  Florence  dying,  the  pope  wished  to  give 
the  office  to  Angelico;  but  he  begged  that  Antonio  should  have  it 
instead,  which  the  pope  granted.  This  greatly  pleased  the  Floren- 
tines, as  he  was  not  only  much  beloved,  but  a  native  of  their  city. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy,  thirteen  years  after  he  was  made 
archbishop,  during  which  time  he  was  distinguished  for  his  wis- 
dom and  holiness.  He  is  always  represented  as  an  archbishop,  and 
wears  the  pallium  over  the  habit  of  the  Dominicans.  May  10,  A.  d. 
1461. 

St.  ApoUinaris  of  Ravenna  (^Ital.  Sant'  Apollinare  ;  Fr,  Saint 
Apollinaire).  This  saint  came  with  the  Apostle  Peter  from  Antioch 
to  Rome,  and  Peter,  having  laid  hands  on  him,  sent  him  to  preach 


48 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


in  tlie  east  of  Italy.  He  became  the  first  Bisliop  of  Ravenna,  and 
performed  such  mh^acles,  and  so  preached,  as  to  convert  multitudes. 
At  length  he  was  seized  and  imprisoned.  His  jailer  allowed  him 
to  escape,  but  his  enemies  pursued  him,  beat  him,  and  wounded  him 
so  that  he  died.  The  Basilica  of  Apollinaris-in-Classe,  is  on  the  spot 
where  he  was  martyred.    July  23,  a.  I).  79. 

St.  Apollonia  of  Alexandria  (Fr.  Sainte  Apolline).  The  par- 
ents of  Apollonia  were  heathens,  and  had  no  children,  though  they 
constantly  prayed  the  gods  to  grant  them  a  child.  Her  father  was 
a  magistrate.  At  length  there  came  three  pilgrims  to  Alexandria, 
begging  in  the  name  of  Jesus  and  the  Blessed  Virgin.  The  wife  of 
the  mao;istrate,  hearino;  them,  asked  if  the  Yiro^in  could  o-rant  her 
prayer  for  a  child  ?  Being  told  of  her  great  power,  she  gave  the 
pilgrims  food  and  money,  and  full  of  faith,  prayed  to  Mary,  who 
answered  the  prayer  by  the  birth  of  Apollonia.  She  was  very 
beautiful;  and  as  her  mother  constantly  told  her  the  story  of  her 
birth,  she  grew  up  a  Christian,  and  sought  St.  Leontine  that  he 
might  baptize  her.  As  soon  as  he  did  so,  an  angel  appeared  with 
a  garment  dazzlingly  white,  which  he  threw  over  her,  saying, 

This  is  Apollonia,  the  servant  of  God  !  Go  now  to  Alexandria 
and  preach  the  faith  of  Christ."  She  obeyed  and  converted  many, 
but  others  accused  her  to  her  father,  who  gave  her  to  the  hea- 
then governor.  He  commanded  her  to  worship  the  idol  of  the 
city.  But  she  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  before  the  idol,  and 
commanded  its  demon  to  depart.  The  demon  broke  the  statue  and 
fied,  crying,  "  The  holy  virgin  Apollonia  drives  me  forth."  Then 
they  bound  her  to  a  column,  and  drew  her  teeth  out  one  by  one 
with  pincers,  and  then,  kindling  a  fire,  they  burned  her.  She  is 
the  patroness  against  toothache  and  all  diseases  of  the  teeth.  Her 
attributes  are  a  pair  of  pincers  with  a  tooth,  and  the  palm ;  some- 
times a  golden  tooth  suspended  on  her  neck  chain.  February.  9, 
A.  D.  250. 

St.  Athanasius  (G'r. 'Ay. 'A^a^ao-tos;  Lat,  St.  Athanasius,  Pater 
Orthodoxise  ;  Ital.  Sant'  Atanasio  ;  F7\  St.  Athanase).  This  saint,  the 
founder  of  the  creed  which  bears  his  name,  was  an  Alexandrian, 
and  a  pupil  of  St.  Anthony.  He  first  studied  science  and  literature, 
but  being  converted,  he  was  ordained  deacon.  His  opposition  to 
Arius  at  the  Council  of  Nice  gained  for  him  the  title  of  the  "  Fa- 
ther of  Orthodoxy."  He  became  Bishop  of  Alexandria,  and  dur- 
ing the  great  schism  of  his  age,  gained  by  his  perseverance  the 
victory  of  the  Catholic  Church.  He  was  bishop  forty-six  years, 
but  he  was  in  exile  during  twenty  years  of  that  time.  May  2, 
A.  D.  373. 

St.  Augustine,  or  St.  Austin  (^Lat.  Sanctus  Augustinus ;  Ital. 
Sant'  Agostino ;  Fr.  St.  Augustin).  The  father  of  St.  Augustine 
was  a  heathen ;   his  mother   Monica,  was  a  Christian.    He  was 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


49 


born  in  Tagaste,  Numidia.  In  his  youth,  he  was  so  devoted  to  pleas- 
ure, that  his  mother  feared  the  destruction  of  his  character,  and  in 
her  sorrow,  sought  advice  of  the  Bishop  of  Carthage.  He  comforted 
her  with  the  assurance  that  her  prayers  would  be  answered  at  last. 
At  length  Augustine  went  to  Rome,  and  was  famous  as  a  lawyer. 
But   he  was  restless  and   unhappy.    He  went  to  Milan,  and  was 


(Murillo) 

there  converted  by  the  preaching  of  St.  Ambrose,  who  baptized 
him  in  the  presence  of  his  mother.  The  "  Te  Deum"  which  is  now 
used  was  composed  for  this  occasion.  St.  Augustine  and  St.  Am- 
brose recited  it  as  they  approached  the  altar.  He  was  Bishop  of 
Hippo,  and  after  thirty-five  years  Hippo  was  besieged  by  the  Van- 
dals, and  St.  Augustine  perished  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  It  is 
4 


50 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


said  that  his  remains  were  removed  to  Pavia.  He  was  the  third 
doctor  of  the  church,  and  his  writings  are  celebrated.  One  of  the 
scenes  in  his  life  most  frequently  illustrated  in  art,  is  that  of  a  vision 
related  by  himself,  and  which  he  saw  while  writing  his  Discourse  on 
the  Trinity.  He  walked  on  the  sea-shore,  lost  in  meditation  upon  the 
great  theme  of  his  writing,  when  he  saw  a  little  child  bringing  water 
and  endeavoring  to  fill  a  hole  which  he  had  dug  in  the  sand.  Au- 
gustine asked  him  the  motive  of  his  labors.  The  child  said  he  in- 
tended to  empty  all  the  water  of  the  sea  into  this  cavity.  "  Impossi- 
ble," exclaimed  St.  Augustine.  Not  more  impossible,"  answered 
the  child,  "  than  for  thee,  O  Augustine,  to  explain  the  mystery  on 
which  thou  art  now  meditating."  He  is  the  patron  of  theologians 
and  learned  men.     August  28,  a.  d.  430. 

St.  Augustine  of  Canterbury  is  believed  to  have  introduced  the 
Benedictine  Order  into  England.  He  was  sent  from  Kome  as  mis- 
sionary to  Britain,  by  St.  Gregory.  Fearing  the  dangers  thought  to 
exist  in  England  at  that  time,  he  and  his  companions  were  seized 
with  dread,  and  Augustine  went  to  beg  the  pope  to  recall  his  com- 
mand. This  Gregory  refused  to  do.  He  made  Augustine  bishop 
over  those  who  should  be  converted.  They  landed  in  Kent,  where 
there  was  great  hatred  of  Christianity,  but  Queen  Bertha  was  a  Chris- 
tian, and  for  her  sake  King  Ethelbert  permitted  them  to  enter  Can- 
terbury, which  they  did,  singing  praises,  and  carrying  the  image  of 
Christ.  Ethelbert  and  his  people  became  Christians,  and  were  bap- 
tized in  a  little  chapel  which  Bertha  had  built  near  Canterbury,  and, 
being  a  French  princess,  had  dedicated  to  Martin  of  Tours.  Au- 
gustine desired  the  conversion  of  the  Britons  as  well  as  the  Saxons, 
and  this  gave  rise  to  great  controversy.  He  deprived  the  bishops 
of  their  sees,  and  resorted  to  severe  measures,  being  in  fact  accused 
of  having  excited  King  Ethelfred  to  destroy  the  monastery  and  the 
twelve  hundred  monks  of  Bangor.  He  should  be  represented  in  the 
Benedictine  habit,  with  the  staff  and  the  Gospel,  or  as  bishop, 
with  pallium,  cope,  and  mitre.    A.  d.  604. 

St.  Balbina  was  the  daughter  of  the  prefect  Quirinus,  and 
discovered  the  lost  chains  of  St.  Peter.  The  church  dedicated  to 
her  at  Rome  is  very  ancient.  She  is  represented  veiled,  with 
chains  in  her  hand  or  near  her. 

St.  Barbara  (Ital  Santa  Barbara ;  Fr.  Sainte  Barbe).  This 
saint  was  of  the  East,  and  daughter  of  Dioscorus,  who  dwelt  in 
Heliopolis.  He  was  rich  and  noble,  and  loved  his  only  daughter  so 
fondly  that  he  shut  her  up  in  a  high  tower  lest  she  should  attract 
suitors  by  her  beauty.  Here  she  passed  her  time  in  study,  and 
while  watching  the  wonders  and  beauties  of  the  heavens,  felt  that 
the  idols  could  not  be  gods,  or  the  creators  of  the  world.  But  she 
had  heard  of  no  other  God.  At  length  the  fame  of  Origen  reached 
her  from  Alexandria,  and  she  sent  him  a  letter  by  a  trusty  servant, 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


51 


asking  that  he  should  teach  her.  He  sent  a  disciple  disguised  as  a 
physician,  who  instructed  her,  and,  after  her  conversion,  baptized  her. 
Her  father  had  set  workmen  to  make  a  bath-room  in  her  tower  ;  and 
when  they  had  made  two  windows,  she  desired  them  to  add  another. 
They  were  afraid  to  do  this,  but  she  insisted,  and  when  her  father 
asked  the  cause,  she  said,  "  Know,  my  father,  that  through  three 
windows  doth  the  soul  receive  light  —  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost ;  and  the  three  are  one."  Then  her  father  would  have 
killed  her  with  his  sword,  but  she  fled  to  the  top  of  the  tower,  and 
angels  concealed  her  and  bore  her  away  to  a  place  of  safety.  A 
shepherd  betrayed  where  she  was  hidden,  and  her  father  dragged 
her  by  the  hair  and  put  her  in  a  dungeon.  He  then  delivered  her 
to  the  proconsul  Marcian,  who  scourged  and  tortured  her,  but  she 
did  not  yield  ;  and  at  last  her  father  carried  her  to  a  mountain  near 
the  city,  and  himself  beheaded  her.  Immediately  a  great  tempest 
arose,  and  the  lightning  entirely  consumed  the  father.  St.  Bar- 
bara is  the  patroness  of  Ferrara,  Mantua,  and  Guastala ;  also  of 
fortifications  and  fire-cirms,  as  well  as  of  armorers  and  gunsmiths. 
She  is  also  invoked  as  a  protector  against  lightning  and  the  explo- 
sions of  gunpowder.  A  tower  with  three  windows  is  her  peculiar 
attribute.  She  also  has  the  book,  palm,  and  sword.  December  4, 
A.  D.  303. 

St.  Barnabas  {Ital.  San  Barnaba  ;  Fr.  Saint  Barnabe).  The 
name  of  apostle  is  also  given  this  saint ;  and  if  not  fully  entitled  to 
it,  he  is  at  least  next  in  holiness  to  the  apostles  with  whom  he 
labored.  Pie  was  a  native  of  Cyprus  —  a  Levite  and  a  cousin  of 
St.  Mark.  He  labored  with  Paul  at  Antioch  and  Lystra,  and  the 
legends  teach  that  he  was  of  so  noble  a  presence  that  he  was  called 
Jupiter,  while  Paul  was  styled  Mercurius.  At  length,  on  account  of 
a  difference  concerning  Mark,  they  separated,  and  Barnabas  preached 
in  Italy  as  well  as  in  Asia  Minor  and  Greece,  and  it  is  said  he  w^as 
the  first  Bishop  of  Milan.  Tradition  says  he  preached  from  the 
Gospel  of  St.  Matthew,  written  by  the  evangelist  himself,  which  he 
carried  always  with  him,  and  that  it  had  power  to  heal  the  sick, 
when  laid  upon  their  bosoms.  He  was  at  last  seized  by  the  Jews 
and  cruelly  martyred  while  preaching  in  Judaea.  Mark  and  other 
Christians  buried  him,  and  in  the  time  of  the  Emperor  Zeno  his 
resting-place  was  revealed  in  a  vision  to  Antemius.  He  was  found 
with  the  Gospel  in  his  bosom.  This  was  taken  to  Constantinople, 
and  a  church  was  built  for  the  saint.    June  11. 

St.  Bartholomew  {Lat.  S.  Bartholomeus  ;  Ital.  San  Bartolo- 
meo;  Fr.  St.  Barthelemi).  The  origin  of  this  saint  is  doubtful,  it 
being  disputed  whether  he  were  the  son  of  a  prince,  Ptolomeus,  or 
of  a  husbandman.  After  the  ascension  of  our  Lord,  he  w^andered 
through  India,  carrying  the  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew.  He  preached 
in  Armenia  and  Cilicia.    He  suffered  a  horrible  death  at  Albanop- 


52 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


oils,  being  first  flayed,  and  then  crucified.  His  attribute  is  a  large 
knife.  Sometimes  he  has  his  own  skin  hanging  over  his  arm. 
August  24. 

St.  Basil  the  Great  {Gr,  "ky.  /5ao-t/Veto? ;  Lat.  S.  Basilius  Mag- 
nus ;  Ital.  San  Basillo  iMagno  ;  Fr.  St.  Baslle).  This  saint  is  the 
second  In  rank  in  the  Greek  Church,  as  well  as  the  founder  of  the 
Basilicans,  the  only  monastic  order  known  In  that  church.  He  was 
born  at  Csesarea,  In  Cappadocia,  in  328,  and  was  of  a  family  of  great 
sanctity  —  his  grandmother,  father,  mother,  two  brothers,  and  a 
sister  all  being  saints.  He  wrote  many  theological  works.  He 
attributes  his  early  education  to  his  grandmother,  St.  Macrina.  He 
studied  at  Constantinople  and  at  Athens,  where  he  was  associated 
with  both  St.  Gregory  of  Nazlanzen  and  with  Julian,  afterwards 
the  Apostate.  His  great  talents  at  one  time  so  aroused  his  pride, 
that  but  for  the  influence  of  St.  Macrina,  his  sister,  he  would  have 
periled  his  salvation.  He  was  then  about  twenty-eight,  and  after 
this  gave  himself  entirely  to  the  Christian  service  —  passing  some 
years  in  the  desert,  as  a  hermit,  where  he  lost  his  health,  from  the 
austerity  of  his  living.  He  was  made  a  priest  in  362,  and  eight 
years  after  Bishop  of  Csesarea.  The  fourteenth  of  June,  the  day 
of  his  ordination,  is  a  great  feast  in  the  Greek  Church.  He  lived 
with  the  same  abstinence  on  the  throne  as  in  the  desert.  He 
contended  with  the  Arians  for  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  ;  and 
when  the  Emperor  Yalens  required  him  to  use  the  rites  of  the 
Arians,  he  refused.  The  Emperor  threatened  him,  even  with  death, 
without  effect.  At  length  he  thouglit  to  awe  Basil  by  coming  to 
church  in  great  state,  with  all  his  court  and  soldiers.  It  was  on 
the  day  of  the  Epiphany.  But  Basil  did  not  notice  him,  even  when 
he  advanced  to  the  altar  with  his  oblation.  Yalens  swooned  and 
fell  into  the  arms  of  an  attendant.  The  Emperor  afterwards  con- 
ferred Avith  Basil,  and,  though  he  remained  unconverted,  he  made 
some  concessions  to  the  Catholics.  It  is  related  of  him,  as  of  two 
other  saints,  that  while  he  preached,  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  the  form 
of  a  white  dove,  rested  on  his  shoulder,  to  inspire  his  words.  June 
14,  A.  D.  380. 

St.  Bavon  {Flem.  St.  Bavo  or  St.  Baf ;  Ital.  San  Bavone).  He 
was  born  a  nobleman  ;  some  authorities  claim,  Duke  of  Brabant.  He 
was  converted  from  idolatry  by  St.  Amand  of  Belgium,  first  Bishop 
of  Maestricht.  Bavon  was  nearly  fifty  years  old,  a  widower,  and  had 
led  a  dissipated  life.  He  gave  all  his  riches  in  charity,  and  was 
placed  by  St.  Amand  in  a  monastery  in  Ghent ;  but  he  left  that, 
and  lived  a  hermit  in  the  forest  of  Malmedun.  His  shelter  was  a 
hollovf  tree,  and  he  subsisted  on  herbs.  It  is  related  of  him,  that 
after  becoming  a  Christian,  he  met  one  who  had  been  his  slave,  and 
cruelly  treated.  Bavon  besought  him  to  bind  and  beat  him,  and 
cast  him  In  prison,  as  he  had  formerly  done  to  him.     This  was  of 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


53 


course  refused  ;  but  the  saint  so  insisted,  that  finally  it  was  done,  and 
while  in  prison,  he  passed  his  time  in  penitence  for  his  former  sins. 
He  is  the  patron  of  Ghent  and  Haerlem.  His  attribute  is  a  Mcon  ;  he 
is  sometimes  represented  as  a  hermit,  and  sometimes  in  his  ducal 
robes.     October  1,  A.  d.  657. 

St.  Bede,  the  Venerable,  was  born  at  Jarrow,  in  Northumberland, 
in  673.  He  was  eminent  for  his  learning  and  piety,  and  some  even 
thought  him  superior  in  eloquence  to  St.  Gregory.  He  died  dictat- 
ing the  last  words  of  a  translation  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  John.  He 
was  called  the  "  Venerable,"  and  was  known  by  this  name  at  a 
Council  at  Aix-la-Chapelle.  There  is  a  legendary  account  of  the 
way  in  which  he  received  this  title.  It  says  that  his  scholars  wish- 
ing to  put  an  inscription  on  his  tombstone,  one  of  them  wrote :  — 

"  Hac  sunt  in  fossa 
Bedoe  ossa," 

leaving  the  blank  as  above,  because  no  suitable  word  occurred  to 
him.  He  fell  asleep  thinking  of  it ;  and  when  he  awoke,  "  venerabilis  " 
had  been  inserted  by  an  angelic  writer.  Other  accounts  of  it  are 
given,  but  this  is  the  favorite  one.  His  works  are  .  extant,  and  his 
"  Ecclesiastical  History  "  is  the  only  authentic  record  we  have  of  the 
early  English  Church.    May  27,  a.  d.  735. 

Bel  and  the  Dragon.  When  Cyrus  was  King  of  Babylon,  and 
Daniel  was  his  friend,  and  greatly  honored  by  him,  the  Babylonians 
had  an  idol  called  Bel,  to  whom  was  given  every  day  "  twelve  great 
measures  of  fine  flour,  and  forty  sheep,  and  six  vessels  of  wine."  And 
the  number  of  the  priests  who  attended  him  were  three  score  and 
ten,  and  they  had  wives  and  children.  JN'ow  Cyrus  worshipped  Bel, 
but  Daniel  worshipped  his  own  God  ;  and  when  Cyrus  demanded  the 
reason  of  this,  Daniel  replied  that  he  could  not  "  worship  idols  made 
with  hands,  but  the  living  God,"  who  had  created  all  men  and  the 
world  in  which  they  lived.  Then  Cyrus  asked  Daniel  if  Bel  were 
not  living,  and  reminded  him  of  how  much  he  ate  and  drank  each 
day.  Then  said  Daniel,  "  O  king,  be  not  deceived  ;  for  this  is  but 
clay  within  and  brass  without,  and  did  never  eat  or  drink  anything." 
So  the  king  was  wroth,  and  said  to  the  priests,  If  ye  tell  me  not 
who  this  is  that  devoureth  these  expenses,  ye  shall  die.  But  if  ye 
can  certify  me  that  Bel  devoureth  them,  then  Daniel  shall  die : 
for  he  hath  spoken  blasphemy  against  Bel."  And  Daniel  replied, 
"  Let  it  be  according  to  thy  word."  Then  the  priests  said  to  the 
king,  "  Lo  we  go  out,  but  thou,  O  king,  set  on  the  meat,  and  make 
ready  the  wine,  and  shut  the  door  fast,  and  seal  it  with  thine  own 
signet ;  and  to-morrow  when  thou  comest  in,  if  thou  findest  not  that 
Bel  hath  eaten  up  all,  we  will  suffer  death ;  or  else  Daniel,  that 
speaketh  falsely  against  us."  Now  they  did  this  because  they  bad 
an  entrance  which  was  hidden  under  the  table,  and  by  that  they 


54 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


could  go  out  and  in  as  they  liked.  Then  the  king  set  the  food  be- 
fore Bel,  as  the  priests  had  said ;  and  Daniel  commanded  the  servants 
to  bring  ashes,  and  he  strewed  them  upon  the  floor ;  and  wlien  all 
was  ready  they  closed  the  temple,  and  the  king  sealed  it  with  his 
own  seal.  Then  in  the  night,  the  priests  came  with  their  wives  and 
children,  as  they  were  accustomed  to  do,  and  consumed  all  that  had 
been  provided.  Now  in  the  morning  the  king  came  with  Daniel, 
and  they  found  the  seals  whole,  and  they  broke  them  and  went  in. 
And  when  the  king  saw  that  the  food  was  gone,  he  cried  out, 
"  Great  art  thou,  O  Bel,  and  with  thee  is  no  deceit  at  all ! Then 
Daniel  laughed,  and  said  to  the  king,  "  Behold  now  the  pavement, 
and  mark  well  whose  footsteps  are  these."  So  when  the  king  saw 
the  footsteps  of  men,  women,  and  children,  he  was  angry,  and  took  the 
priests  with  their  wives  and  children,  and  these  showed  him  the  door 
where  they  had  gone  in  and  out.  Then  the  king  slew  them,  and  gave 
the  idol  Bel  to  Daniel,  and  he  destroyed  both  the  god  and  his  temple. 
Now  in  the  same  place  was  a  great  dragon,  which  was  also  wor- 
shipped by  the  Babylonians ;  and  the  king  said  to  Daniel,  "  Wilt 
thou  also  say  that  this  is  of  brass  ?  Lo,  he  liveth,  he  eateth  and 
drinketh ;  thou  canst  not  say  that  he  is  no  living  God,  therefore 
worship  him."  But  Daniel  declared  that  he  would  not  worship  him, 
and  that  he  could  slay  him  without  sword  or  stave.  And  the  king 
gave  him  leave.  Then  Daniel  took  pitch  and  fat  and  hair,  and 
made  lumps  of  it,  and  put  them  in  the  Dragon's  mouth,  until  he 
burst  in  sunder.  Then  the  people  were  filled  with  indignation,  and 
they  came  to  the  king,  and  demanded  that  he  should  deliver  Daniel 
to  them,  or  they  would  destroy  him  and  his  house.  Then  the  king, 
being  sore  pressed,  gave  up  Daniel,  and  they  threw  him  into  the  lions' 
den,  where  he  remained  six  days.  Now  there  were  seven  lions  in  the 
den,  and  each  day  they  had  given  them  two  carcasses  and  two  sheep, 
but  now  they  gave  them  nothing,  so  that  they  might  devour  Daniel. 
There  was  in  Jewry  a  prophet  whose  name  was  Habakkuk  ;  and  he 
had  made  him  a  mess  of  pottage,  and  had  put  bread  in  a  bowl,  and 
was  about  to  give  it  to  the  reapers  in  the  field  ;  but  the  angel  of  the 
Lord  came  to  him,  and  commanded  that  he  should  carry  it  to  Baby- 
lon, and  give  it  to  Daniel,  who  was  in  the  lions'  den.  Then  Habak- 
kuk said,  "  Lord,  I  never  saw  Babylon  ;  neither  do  I  know  where 
the  den.  is."  Then  the  angel  of  the  Lord  took  Habakkuk  by  the 
hair  of  his  head,  and  set  him  in  Babylon  over  the  lions'  den  ;  and 
Habakkuk  cried,  saying,  "  O  Daniel,  Daniel,  take  the  dinner  which 
God  hath  sent  thee."  Then  Daniel  thanked  God  that  he  had  not 
left  him  to  perish,  and  arose,  and  ate  the  food  which  the  prophet  had 
brought,  and  the  angel  set  Habakkuk  again  in  his  own  place.  Now, 
upon  the  seventh  day,  the  king  came  to  the  den,  to  bewail  Daniel, 
and  he  found  him  alive.  Then  cried  the  king,  "  Great  art  thou, 
O  Lord  God  of  Daniel,  and  there  is  none  other  beside  thee."  Then 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


55 


he  took  Daniel  out  of  the  den,  and  cast  in  those  who  had  accused 
him,  and  they  were  devoured  in  a  moment,  before  his  face. 

St.  Benedict  (Ital.  San  Benedetto;  Fr.  Saint  Benoit;  Sii.  San 
Benito).  This  saint  was  the  founder,  the  patriarch  and  the  first 
abbot  of  the  great  Order  of  the  Benedictines.  He  was  of  noble 
birth,  and  a  native  of  Norcia,  in  the  duchy  of  Spoleto.  He  studied 
at  Rome,  but  soon  wearied  of  the  profligacy  of  those  about  him ;  and 
imbibing  the  ideas  of  St.  Jerome  and  St.  Augustine  in  favor  of  soli- 
tude, at  fifteen  he  became  a  hermit.  His  nurse,  who  loved  him  ex- 
tremely, followed  him  in  his  retirement,  and  ministered  as  much  as 
possible  to  his  comfort.  But  he,  regarding  this  as  a  drawback  to 
perfect  holiness,  fled  from  her  to  Subiaco,  a  wilderness,  forty  miles 
from  Rome.  Here  he  lived  for  three  years,  entirely  unknown,  except 
to  Romano,  another  hermit,  who  shared  with  him  his  bread  and 
water.  Here  he  was  greatly  tempted  by  the  recollections  of  the 
world  he  had  left,  and  especially  at  one  time,  by  the  remembrance 
of  a  beautiful  woman  he  had  seen  at  Rome,  when,  to  overcome  his 
great  desire  to  return  to  her,  he  flung  himself  into  a  thicket  of  briers 
and  thorns,  and  rolled  himself  until  he  was  torn  and  bleeding.  At 
the  monastery  of  Subiaco  they  show  roses,  said  to  have  been  prop- 
agated from  these  briers.  The  fame  of  his  sanctity  at  last  brought 
great  crowds  to  him,  who  begged  his  prayers,  and  that  he  would 
heal  their  diseases,  and  a  company  of  hermits  near  by  requested 
that  he  would  be  their  head.  But  when  they  saw  the  severity  of 
his  life,  they  attempted  to  poison  him.  When  he  made  the  sign  of 
the  cross  before  the  poisoned  cup,  it  fell  to  the  ground  in  fragments. 
He  then  returned  to  his  cave  and  again  dwelt  alone.  But  so  many 
hermits  came  to  Subiaco  and  lived  in  huts  and  caves,  that  at  length, 
for  the  sake  of  order,  Benedict  commanded  them  to  build  twelve 
monasteries,  and  he  placed  twelve  monks  in  each.  Two  senators  of 
Rome  brought  to  him  their  sons,  Maurus  and  Placidus,  to  be  edu- 
cated as  Christians.  They  were  but  twelve  and  five  years  of  age, 
and  they  became  the  special  charge  of  Benedict.  But  Satan,  much 
troubled  at  all  this,  put  it  into  the  heart  of  a  priest,  Florentius,  to 
traduce  the  character  of  St.  Benedict,  and  to  poison  him  with  a  loaf 
of  bread.  These  plans  failing,  he  at  last  brought  seven  young 
women  into  one  of  the  monasteries  to  try  the  chastity  of  the  monks. 
Then  Benedict  left  Subiaco,  and  immediately  Florentius  was  crushed 
to  death  beneath  a  falling  gallery  in  his  own  house.  Benedict  even 
wept  for  his  fate,  and  imposed  a  penance  on  Maurus  when  he  rejoiced 
at  it.  There  still  remained  at  this  time,  on  Monte  Cassino,  a  temple 
of  Apollo.  Here  Benedict  went,  and  by  his  miracles  and  preach- 
ing converted  the  idolaters,  so  that  they  broke  the  statue  and  altar, 
and  burnt  the  grove.  Here  he  built  up  two  chapels,  and  dedicated 
them  to  St.  John  the  Baptist  and  St.  Martin  of  Tours  On  the  sum- 
mit of  this  mountain  he  founded  the  monastery  which  has  always 


56 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


been  regarded  as  tlie  parent  of  all  others  of  the  Benedictine  Order. 
From  here  he  promulgated  the  rules  of  his  Order.  His  sister 
Scholastica  followed  him  to  Monte  Cassino,  and  he  visited  her  once 
a  year  during  the  last  years  of  his  life.  In  540  Totila,  King  of  the 
Goths,  visited  Benedict,  and  entreated  his  blessing.  The  saint  re- 
proved him  for  his  past  life,  and  it  was  thought  that  after  this  the 
Goth  was  less  ferocious.  Before  his  death  monasteries  of  his  order 
were  instituted  in  all  parts  of  Europe.  He  was  at  last  seized  with 
fever,  and  on  the  sixth  day  he  ordered  his  grave  to  be  dug,  and 
after  standing  upon  the  edge  of  it,  supported  by  his  disciples,  and 
in  silent  contemplation,  he  was  borne  to  the  altar  of  the  church,  and 
receiving  the  last  sacrament  there  died.    March  21,  A.  d.  543. 

St.  Benedict  of  Anian  {Fr.  Saint  Benoit  d'  Aniane).  This 
saint  was  page  and  cup-bearer  at  the  court  of  Pepin-le-Bref,  and  a 
distinguished  commander  in  the  army  of  Charlemagne.  He  was 
born  at  Maguelonne,  in  Languedoc,  and  his  original  name  is  unknown. 
He  had  an  extremely  narrow  escape  from  drowning,  afler  which  he 
commenced  a  religious  life.  He  went  first  to  the  Abbey  of  St.  Seine ; 
but  disapproving  of  the  habits  of  the  monks,  he  dwelt  a  hermit  on 
the  banks  of  the  Anian.  At  length,  a  number  of  hermits  having 
joined  him,  he  founded  a  Benedictine  monastery,  with  great  severity 
of  rule.  He  was  called  to  Aix-la-Chapelle  by  Louis-le-Debonnaire. 
Here  he  founded  another  monastery.  He  presided  at  a  council  for 
the  reformation  of  the  monastic  orders.  William,  Duke  of  Aqui- 
taine,  was  a  great  warrior,  and  had  vanquished  the  Saracens  in  the 
south  of  France.  He  was  converted  by  St.  Benedict,  and  built  a 
monastery  in  which  he  lived  and  died,  a  monk.  St.  Benedict  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  monk's  habit.    February  12,  A.  d.  821. 

Benedict,  Bennet  Biscop,  or  St.  Bennet  of  Wearmouth, 
did  much  for  art  as  well  as  piety  in  England.  He  was  of  a  noble 
Northumbrian  family.  He  founded  the  monasteries  of  St.  Peter's 
at  Wearmouth  and  St.  Paul's  at  Jarrow.  He  had  a  cultivated  taste, 
and  went  five  times  to  France  and  Italy.  He  brought  to  England 
stone-workers  and  glaziers  to  introduce  a  new  style  of  building. 
He  brought,  too,  many  books  and  pictures,  and  also  a  certain  John, 
Abbot  of  San  Martino,  wdio  was  a  teacher  of  music,  and  who  intro- 
duced chanting  into  English  cathedrals.  St.  Bennet  w^rote  many 
books  of  instruction  for  monks,  and  died  at  an  advanced  age,  cele- 
brated for  piety  and  munificence.    January  12,  A.  D.  703. 

St.  Benno  is  noted  especially  for  his  connection  with  the  Empe- 
ror Henry  IV.  He  was  a  German  Benedictine,  and  Bishop  of 
Meissen ;  and  when  Henry,  after  being  excommunicated,  attempted 
to  enter  the  cathedral,  Benno  locked  the  doors  and  threw  the  key 
in  the  river  Elbe.  He  then  went  to  Rome.  On  his  return  to 
Meissen,  he  ordered  a  fishermen  to  cast  his  net  into  the  river,  and  a 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


57 


proper  attribute 
Bernardus,  Doe- 


fish  was  taken,  in  which  was  found 
is  a  fish  with  a  key  in  its  mouth. 

St  Bernard  of  Clairvaux 
tor  melhfluus ;  Hal.  San  Ber- 
nardo di  Chiaravalle,  Abbate  ; 
Ger.  Der  Heilige  Bernhard ; 
F7\  Saint  Bernard)  was  a 
man  of  great  jDower  and 
importance.  He  was  born  in 
1190  at  Fontaine  near  Dijon. 
He  was  the  son  of  a  noble, 
and  his  mother,  Alice,  was  a 
remarkable  woman.  She  had 
a  large  number  of  children, 
all  of  whom  she  nursed  at 
her  own  breast,  as  she  be- 
lieved that  infants  imbibe 
with  the  milk  the  tempera- 
ment of  the  nurse.  According 
to  all  authorities  she  gave 
her  son  his  early  education. 
From  the  age  of  fifteen  he 
practiced  great  self-denial, 
and  from  it  his  health  suf- 
ered.  He  had  great  personal 
beauty.  After  studying  at 
the  University  of  Paris,  he 
entered  at  twenty  the  Bene- 
dictine Monastery  of  Citeaux.  He  resisted  all  temptations,  and  it  is 
related  of  him,  that  finding  himself  gazing  on  a  beautiful  woman 
with  a  feeling  of  pleasure,  he  rushed  into  a  half-frozen  pool  and 
remained  there  until  nearly  frozen  himself  The  Abbey  of  Citeaux 
became  so  crowded,  that  Bernard  was  sent  at  twenty-five  to  found 
another  monastery.  He  went  with  twelve  companions  to  what  was 
then  called  the  "  Valley  of  Wormwood,"  and  there  founded  the  Ab- 
bey of  Clairvaux.  In  a  few  years  Bernard  became  famous,  and  his 
abbey  very  much  crowded.  He  was  considered  authority  in  matters 
of  law  as  well  as  religion.  He  wrote  the  laws  of  the  Templars.  He 
was  judge  between  Anacletus  and  Innocent  H.,  and  the  wdiole  church 
was  satisfied  with  his  decision.  He  also  reconciled  the  disputes  be 
tween  the  clergy  of  Milan  and  Rome.  He  preached  a  second  Cru- 
sade, and  succeeded  in  rousing  the  people  to  great  enthusiasm,  and 
was  invited  to  assume  the  command.  He  was  also  the  adversary 
of  Abelard  and  Arnold  de  Brescia.  St.  Bernard  is  one  of  the  Fathers 
of  the  Church.  In  his  writings  he  sets  forth  with  great  power  the 
perfections  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  especially  in  the  "Missus  Est,"  and 


(Fra  Angelico.) 
St.  Bernard  of  Clairvaux. 


58 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


it  was  believed  that  she  appeared  to  him  twice  :  once,  when  ill  and 
^  unable  to  write,  she  restored 

^^-^^^'A.  him  by  her   presence;  and 


ten  miles  from  Siena.  Here  he  formed  the  order  called  Olivet- 
ani."  They  were  Benedictines  in  rule,  and  wore  a  white  habit. 
August  21,  A.  D.  1348. 

St.  Bernard  of  Menthon  was  by  birth  a  noble  Savoyard. 
In  his  youth  he  was  serious  and  studious,  showing  such  traits  of 
character  as  fitted  him  for  a  religious  life.  His  father  wished  him 
to  marry ;  but  he  preferred  to  study,  and  put  himself  under  the 
teaching  of  Peter,  Archdeacon  of  Aoust.  In  966  Bernard  was  made 
archdeacon,  which  was  at  that  time  a  responsible  and  laborious  office, 
as  its  duties  comprised  the  whole  government  of  the  diocese.  By 
great  devotion  and  constant  preaching  for  forty-two  years,  he  did 
much  good  in  the  dioceses  of  Aoust,  Sion,  Geneva,  Tarantaise, 
Milan,  and  Novara.  He  destroyed  an  idol  on  a  mountain  in  the 
Walais,  and  exposed  the  deception  of  the  heathen  priests.  He 
founded  two  roads  and  two  monastic  hospitals,  the  Great  and  Little 
St.  Bernard,  the  former  of  which  was  near  the  site  of  the  heathen 
idol  before  spoken  of.    At  these  hospitals  the  monks,  assisted  by 


g  ious  passion  of  the  age,  he 


again  she  moistened  his  lips 
with  the  milk  of  her  bosom, 
so  that  his  eloquence  was  ir- 
resistible. His  health  suf- 
fered greatly  from  his  labors 
and  fasts,  and  he  died  at 
sixty-tliree.  His  attributes 
are  the  demon  fettered  behind 
him  ;  three  mitres  on  his  book 
or  at  his  feet,  emblems  of 
three  bishoprics  which  he 
refused  ;  the  bee  hive,  a  sym- 
bol of  eloquence.  The  mi- 
tre and  crosier  as  Abbot  of 
Clairvaux  are  given  him  but 
rarely.    Aug.  20,  A.  B.  1153. 

St.  Bernard  Ptolomei 
(^Ital.  San  Bernardo  dei  Tol- 
omei).  He  was  of  an  illus- 
trious family  of  Siena ;  born 
in  1272.  He  distinguished 
himself  as  a  lawyer,  but  at 
length,  seized  with  the  relig- 


St.  Bernard  writing  the  "  Missus  Est." 


went  into  a  mountain,  called 
the  Mount  of  Olives,  about 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


59 


their  dogs,  search  out  and  care  for  travellers  who  are  lost  in  the 
•passes  of  the  mountains,  where  the  storms  are  severe  and  the  cold 
intense.  St.  Bernard  died  at  Novara,  at  eighty-five  years  of  age. 
His  body  is  in  the  monastery  at  Novara,  and  his  head  is  shown  in  a 
rich  case  at  the  monastery  of  Monte-Joye,  in  the  diocese  of  Aoust. 
May  28,  a.  d.  1008. 

St.  Bernardino  of  Siena.  This  saint  was  of  the  family  of 
Albizeschi.  He  was  born  at  Massa,  a  Sienese  town,  in  1380.  His 
mother  dying,  he  was  edu- 
cated by  an  aunt,  whose 
influence  developed  not 
only  his  talents,  but  great 
purity  of  character  also. 
At  seventeen  he  joined  a 
brotherhood  whose  mem- 
bers were  devoted  to  the 
service  of  the  hospitals. 
A  pestilence  soon  broke 
out,  which  destroyed  great 
numbers,  and  among  them 
physicians  and  priests. 
For  four  months,  Bernar- 
dino with  twelve  others 
cared  for  the  inmates  of 
the  plague  hospital.  His 
health  suffered  greatly  from 
his  labor.  He  became  a 
Franciscan  at  twenty- 
three.  He  was  a  celebra- 
ted preacher,  and  went  all 
over  Italy.  He  endeavored 
to  reconcile  the  Guelphs 
and  Ghibellines.  He  was 
offered  three  bishoprics, 
which  he  refused.  The  duke  of  Milan,  offended  at  his  preaching, 
threatened  him  in  vain ;  he  then  sent  him  money,  with  which  he 
went  to  the  prisons  and  liberated  poor  debtors.  He  founded  the 
order  called  in  Italy  "  Osservanti,"  and  in  France  "  Freres  de 
r Observance,"  because  they  observe  strictly  the  rule  of  St.  Francis, 
going  barefoot  and  keeping  absolute  the  vow  of  poverty.  When 
preaching,  he  held  in  his  hand  a  tablet  on  which  was  the  name  of 
Jesus  in  a  circle  of  golden  rays.  A  man  who  had  lived  by  making 
cards  and  dice  complained  to  the  saint  that  on  account  of  the  re- 
forms in  religion,  his  occupation  was  gone.  Bernardino  advised  him 
to  carve  tablets  like  his,  to  sell  to  the  people.  He  did  so ;  and  a 
peculiar  sanctity  being  attached  to  them,  he  sold  large  numbers,  and 


St.  Bernardino  of  Siena. 


60 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


made  a  fortune  in  this  way.  St.  Bernardino  is  said  to  have  founded 
those  institutions  called  still  in  France  Monts-de-Piete/'  where 
money  is  loaned  on  joledges.  In  the  commencement  they  were  en- 
tirely charitable  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor.  He  died  at  Aquila, 
in  the  Abruzzi,  where  his  remains  are  preserved  in  a  silver  shrine 
in  the  church  of  San  Francisco.    May  20,  A.  b.  1444. 

St.  Bernardino  da  Feltri  shares  the  honor  of  having  founded 
the  "Monts-de-Piete.  He  was  a  celebrated  preacher,  and  preached 
at  the  Church  of  Santa  Croce  in  Florence,  against  Jews  and  usurers, 
and  the  necessity  that  the  poor  should  be  protected  from  them.  It 
is  certain  that  the  two  Bernardinos  labored  in  this  matter,  but  not 
easy  to  decide  to  which  belongs  the  greatest  honor. 

St.  Bibiana  was  a  Roman  lady,  who,  together  with  her  father, 
mother,  and  sister,  suffered  martyrdom  in  the  reign  of  Julian  the 
Apostate^  She  was  scourged,  and  then  pierced  with  a  dagger.  The 
church  dedicated  to  her  is  between  the  Santa  Croce  and  the  Porte 
Maggiore.  The  column  to  which  she  was  bound,  is  shown  within 
the  church.    December  2,  A.  b.  362. 

St.  Blaise  of  Sebaste  (GV.  "Ay.  B/Wo-os  ;  ltd.  San  Biagio; 
Fr.  Saint  Blaise ;  Ger.  Der  Heilige  Blasius ;  signification,  crooked.) 
This  holy  man  was  bishop  over  the  Christians  at  Sebaste  in  Cappa- 
docia,  and,  in  the  time  when  Agricolaus  Avas  governor,  was  obliged 
to  flee  to  the  mountains  to  escape  persecution.  There  were  great 
numbers  of  wild  beasts  there,  but  instead  of  harming  the  saint,  they 
came  to  him  in  numbers  each  morning  to  receive  his  blessing ;  and 
when  Agricolaus  sent  to  obtain  beasts  for  the  amphitheatres,  the  hunt- 
ers found  St.  Blaise  surrounded  with  them.  He  nursed  the  sick 
ones,  reproved  the  ferocious,  and  gave  his  benediction  to  all.  The 
hunters,  amazed  at  this,  seized  him  and  took  him  to  the  governor. 
As  they  went  they  met  a  woman,  whose  child  was  choking  from  a 
bone  stuck  in  its  throat.  The  mother  cried  out,  "  O  servant  of  Christ, 
have  mercy  on  me."  He  laid  his  hand  on  the  throat  of  the  child 
and  prayed,  and  it  was  healed.  Again,  they  met  a  woman  Avhose 
pig  had  been  carried  ofi*  by  a  wolf,  and  as  it  was  all  she  had  of 
worldly  goods,  she  was  in  much  distress.  St.  Blaise  commanded 
the  wolf  to  bring  back  the  pig  unharmed  ;  which  was  done.  The 
governor  sentenced  him  to  be  scourged  and  imprisoned  without  food  ; 
but  the  poor  woman  had  killed  her  pig,  and  brought  a  part,  with 
bread  and  fruit,  to  the  holy  man.  A  second  time  the  governor  tor- 
tured him  by  tearing  his  flesh  with  iron  combs,  such  as  are  used  to 
card  wool ;  when,  as  he  still  remained  firm  in  his  faith,  he  was  be- 
headed. He  is  the  patron  of  Bagusa,  also  the  patron  of  wool 
combers,  of  those  who  suffer  from  throat  diseases,  and  of  wild  ani- 
mals. He  is  a  popular  saint  in  France  and  England,  and  especially 
in  Yorkshire,  where  once  in  seven  years  a  festival  is  held  in  his 
honor.  The  iron  wool  comb  is  his  proper  attribute.  February  3, 
A.  D.  316. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


61 


St.  Bonaventura  was  the  great  prelate  of  the  Seraphic  Order, 
and  was  styled  "  il  Dot- 
tore  Serafico."  His  fame 
is  not  confined  to  his 
Order,  as  he  is  consid- 
ered one  of  the  bright- 
est lights  of  the  whole 
Roman  Catholic  Church. 
His  name  was  Giovanni 
Fidanga,  and  he  was 
born  at  Bagnarea  in  Tus- 
cany, in  1221.  In  his 
infancy  he  was  so  ill  that 
his  life  was  despaired  of, 
and  his  mother  took  him 
to  St.  Francis  to  be 
healed.  When  the  saint 
saw  him,  he  exclaimed, 
"  O,  buona  ventura," 
whereupon  his  mother 
dedicated  him  to  God 
by  the  name  of  Bona- 
ventura. His  progress 
in  study  was  amazing,  and  at  twenty-two  he  became  a  Franciscan, 
and  went  to  Paris  to  study  theology.  He  soon  became  celebrated, 
but  his  humility  was  so  great  that  he  felt  unworthy  to  receive  the 
sacrament,  and  it  is  taught  in  the  legends  that  the  Host  was  pre- 
sented to  him  by  angels.  Louis  IX.  (St.  Louis)  greatly  honored 
him  while  at  Paris,  and  he  was  chosen  General  of  his  Order  at 
thirty-five.  He  was  appointed  Archbishop  of  York,  but  declined  the 
honor.  At  length  he  was  made  Cardinal  and  Bishop  of  Albano 
When  the  pope's  nuncios  carried  him  the  cardinal's  hat,  they  found 
him  in  the  garden  of  a  convent,  near  Florence,  washing  the  plate 
from  wdiich  he  had  just  eaten,  and  he  requested  them  to  hang  the 
hat  on  a  tree  until  he  could  take  it.  In  1274,  when  a  council  was 
held  at  Lyons  to  reconcile  the  Greek  and  Latin  churches,  he,  being- 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  preachers,  first  addressed  the  as- 
sembly. The  fatigues  of  his  labors  here  brought  on  a  fever,  of  which 
he  died,  being  fifty-three  years  old.  He  was  buried  in  the  church 
of  the  Franciscans  at  Lyons,  but  the  Huguenots  broke  open  his 
shrine  and  threw  his  ashes  into  the  Saone.    July  14,  a.  d.  1274. 

St.  Boniface,  martyr  (^Lai.  and  Ger.  Sanctus  Bonifacius ;  Ital. 
San  Bonifaccio).  The  history  of  St.  Boniface  is  one  of  the  most  au- 
thentic, as  well  as  beautiful,  of  the  legends  of  his  age.  Justice  can 
by  no  means  be  done  to  his  character  in  the  space  allotted  him  here. 
His  name  was  Winfred,  and  he  was  born  of  a  noble  family  at  Credi- 


62 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


ton,  in  Devonshire.  He  taught  literature  and  the  Holy  Scriptures  at 
the  Benedictine  abbey  of  Nutsall,  or  Nuscella,  near  Winchester,  until 
he  was  thirty-six  years  old.  For  some  years  he  had  not  been  happy 
in  his  cjuiet  vocation,  but  was  constantly  haunted  by  a  desire  to 
preach  the  Gospel  in  Germany.  He  went  first  to  Friesland,  but  it 
was  in  the  days  of  Charles  Martel,  and  a  time  when  he  could  hope 
for  no  results  from  his  labors ;  so  he  returned  to  Nutsall,  but  soon 
left  England  for  the  last  time,  and  went  to  Rome  to  entreat  the  aid 
of  the  pope  in  his  German  labors.  It  is  said  to  have  been  at  this 
time  that  he  changed  his  name.  Receiving  a  commission  from  the 
pope,  he  now  travelled  through  Bavaria,  Thuringia,  Saxony,  and 
Friesland,  preaching  with  great  success.  In  732,  he  was  made 
Archbishop  and  Primate  of  all  Germany,  and  soon  after,  King  Pe- 
pin-le-Bref,  whom  Boniface  had  consecrated,  made  him  the  first 
Bishop  of  Mayence.  But  when  seventy-four  years  old,  he  gave  up 
all  his  honors,  and  girding  on  the  plain  habit  of  a  Benedictine 
monk,  devoted  himself  again  to  missionary  labors.  At  length,  while 
in  his  tent,  on  the  banks  of  a  small  river  in  Friesland,  where  he 
awaited  a  company  of  proselytes,  to  whom  he  was  about  to  adminis- 
ter the  rite  of  confirmation,  he  was  attacked  by  a  band  of  pagans 
who  had  sworn  to  murder  him.  He  always  carried  in  his  bosom  a 
copy  of  the  "  De  Bono  Mortis  "  of  St.  Ambrose.  This  was  stained 
with  his  blood,  and  was  preserved  as  a  sacred  relic  at  Fulda.  In 
1835  King  Louis  of  Bavaria,  in  honor  of  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary 
of  his  marriage,  founded  a  magnificent  basilica,  and  consecrated  it 
to  St.  Boniface,  in  which  are  fine  frescoes,  representing  the  various 
scenes  in  the  life  of  this  wonderful  man.  June  5,  A.  B.  755. 
St.  Boniface.    See  St.  Agl«. 

St.  Brice  {Lat.  Sanctus  Britius)  was  Bishop  of  Tours  and  suc- 
cessor to  St.  Martin.  He  is  represented  with  coals  in  his  hands, 
which  he  carries  unhurt,  to  prove  himself  innocent  of  false  accusa- 
tions made  against  him ;  and  again  he  carries  a  child  in  his  arms, 
November  13,  A.  D.  444. 

St.  Bridget  of  Ireland.  Although  nearly  every  vestige  of  this 
saint  is  gone,  she  still  lives  as  their  patroness  in  the  hearts  of  the 
Irish  people.  Her  mother  was  very  lovely,  and  the  captive,  taken 
in  war,  of  a  powerful  chieftain.  His  wife,  being  jealous  of  her,  turned 
her  away  before  the  birth  of  Bridget.  But  two  disciples  of  St.  Pat- 
rick took  pity  on  them,  and  baptized  the  mother  and  child.  Bridget 
grew  up  with  such  beauty  of  mind  and  person,  that  she  became 
famous,  and  her  father  desired  to  have  her,  and  to  marry  her  to  a 
chief.  But  Bridget  devoted  herself  to  God's  service,  especially  to  the 
instruction  of  women.  She  went  to  Kildare,  "  the  cell  or  place  of 
the  oak,''  and  not  only  taught  and  preached,  but  performed  mir- 
acles. Her  fame  drew  about  her  many  women  who  lived  in  huts, 
and  from  this  arose  the  first  religious  community  of  women  in  Ire- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART.  63 

land.  The  convent  and  city  of  Kildare,  were  afterwards  both  flour- 
ishing and  famous.  Here  was  preserved  unextinguished,  for  many 
centuries,  the  sacred  lamp  which  burned  before  her  altar. 

"  The  bright  lamp  that  shone  in  Kildare's  holy  fane, 
And  burned  through  long  ages  of  darkness  and  storm." 

February  1. 

St.  Bridget  of  Sweden  was  the  founder  of  the  Order  of  the 
Brigittines,  or  Birgitta,  and  is  one  of  the  patron  saints  of  Sweden. 
She  was  of  royal  blood,  and  married  to  the  Prince  of  Norica,  named 
Ulpho.  She  was  very  devout,  and  influenced  her  husband  and  their 
eight  children  to  live  religiously.  After  the  death  of  Ulpho,  she 
built  the  Monastery  of  Wastein  and  endowed  it  largely.  Here  she 
placed  both  nuns  and  brothers.  Their  rule  was  principally  that  of 
St.  Augustine,  though  modified  by  directions  Bridget  received  in  vis- 
ions, of  which  she  had  many.  Her  order  was  approved  by  the  pope, 
under  the  title  of  the  "  Eule  of  the  Order  of  our  Saviour."  She 
made  many  pilgrimages  to  Rome  and  Compostella. 

St.  Bruno  was  the  founder  and  first  abbot  of  the  Carthusian 
Order.  He  was  of  a  noble  family  of  Cologne,  and  on  account  of 
his  great  talents  was  sent  to  Paris  to  study  theology  under  Raymond. 
He  afterwards  taught  in  the  school  at 
Rheims  ;  but,  after  long  reflection,  determined 
on  a  monastic  life.  With  six  companions, 
he  went  to  Grenoble,  when  Hugo,  the  bishop, 
having  been  warned  in  a  dream  of  their  com- 
ing, gave  them  some  barren  land  at  Chart- 
reux.  Here  Bruno  founded  his  first  monastery, 
and  his  order  was  confirmed  by  the  pope. 
The  robes  and  hoods  of  the  Carthusians  are 
white,  and  their  whole  heads  shaven.  Ur- 
ban 11.  had  been  a  pupil  of  Bruno  at 
Rheims,  and  when  he  became  pope,  sent 
for  him  to  aid  him  in  his  great  cares,  and 
desired  to  make  him  Archbishop  of  Reg- 
gio.  But  this  Bruno  refused,  and  not  liking 
the  life  at  court,  retired  to  Calabria,  where 
he  founded  another  monastery.  He  died  in 
1200.  The  order  which  he  established  is 
of  great  interest.  It  is  the  most  severe  in 
its  rule  of  all  the  monastic  orders,  and  adds 
almost  perpetual  silence  to  the  usual  vows. 
Only  once  a  week  can  these  monks  talk  to- 
gether. They  never  taste  flesh,  and  make 
but  one  meal  a  day,  of  pulse,  bread,  and 

water,  and  this  is  eaten  separately.  Thev  (Le  Sueur.)  Louvre.  St.  Bruno 
labor,  too,  with  great    diligence,  and    theiV        reading  the  Pope's  Letter. 


64 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


discipline  has  been  described  as  most  fearful  in  its  severity.  In 
spite  of  all  this,  they  have  an  extreme  love  of  the  beautiful,  and 
have  done  much  for  art.  Their  churches  and  gardens  were  won- 
drous in  their  perfection,  and  their  pictures  at  La  Grande  Chartreuse 
(now  in  the  Louvre)  ;  in  the  Chartreuse  of  Santa  Maria  de  las 
Cuevas,  near  Seville ;  at  Paular,  and  other  places,  possess  a  world 
of  interest.    July  18. 

Caedmon  the  Poet  lived  in  the  monastery  of  the  Abbess  Hilda, 
as  a  servant,  until  past  middle  life.  He  knew  nothing  of  literature 
or  poetry  ;  and  when  it  came  his  turn  to  sing  at  table,  he  went  away. 
Once  as  he  did  this,  and  went  to  the  stable  to  care  for  the  horses, 
he  fell  asleep,  and  an  angel  came  in  a  dream  and  told  him  to  sing. 
He  answered  that  he  could  not  sing,  and  for  that  reason  had  left 
the  table.  But  the  angel  said,  "  You  shall  sing,  notwithstanding  ;  " 
and  when  he  asked  what  he  should  sing,  the  reply  was,  "  Sing  the 
beginning  of  created  beings."  Then  Casdmon  began  to  sing  praises 
to  God  ;  and  when  he  awoke  he  remembered  all  he  had  sung,  and 
was  able  to  add  more  also.  When  he  told  this  to  Hilda,  she 
believed  him  to  be  inspired,  and  received  him  into  her  community. 
He  was  instructed  in  Scripture  ;  and  as  he  read,  he  converted  it  into 
verse.  His  paraphrase  of  Scripture  is  still  preserved  in  the  Bod- 
leian Library,  at  Oxford.  He  died  peacefully,  while  making  the  sign 
of  the  cross. 

St.  Casimir,  patron  saint  of  Poland,  was  the  son  of  Casimir  TV. 
of  Poland  and  Elizabeth  of  Austria.  From  his  childhood  he 
participated  in  none  of  the  pursuits  of  his  father's  court  j  and  as  he 
grcAV  up,  he  composed  many  religious  hymns.  He  refused  the  crown 
of  Hungary,  and  lived  more  and  more  secluded,  devoting  himself 
to  religious  pursuits,  until  his  death  in  1483.    March  4. 

St.  Cassian  (//a/.  San  Casciano^  was  a  school-master  of  Lnola, 
and  being  denounced  as  a  Christian,  the  judge  who  condemned  him 
to  death  allowed  his  scholars  to  be  his  executioners.  They  hated 
him  on  account  of  his  severe  discipline,  and  they  tortured  him  most 
cruelly,  by  piercing  him  with  the  iron  styles  used  in  writing.  He  is 
the  patron  saint  of  Imola.    August  13. 

St.  Catherine  of  Alexandria,  virgin  and  martyr  {Lat,  Sancta 
Catharina  ;  Ital,  Santa  Catarina  dei  Studienti,  or  Santa  Catarina 
delle  Ruote  ;  Fr.  Madame  Saincte  Catherine  ;  Sp,  Santa  Catalina  ; 
Ger.  Die  Heilige  Katharina  von  Alexandrien).  This  saint  was  the 
daughter  of  Costis  (lialf  brother  to  Constantine  the  Great)  and 
Sabinella,  Queen  of  Egypt.  Before  the  birth  of  Catherine,  her 
mother  was  prepared  by  a  dream  to  find  her  a  remarkable  child  ; 
and  at  the  moment  of  her  birth,  a  halo  of  light  played  about  her 
head.  Her  acquirements  and  her  wisdom  were  most  wonderful, 
and  the  philosophy  of  Plato  was  her  favorite  study  while  a  child. 
She  had  seven  learned  masters,  and  chambers  fitted  with  everything 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


65 


to  aid  her  in  her  studies.  Her  father  died  when  she  was  fourteen, 
leaving  her  heiress  to  the  kingdom.  She  gave  herself  up  to  study 
and  retirement,  which  displeased  her  subjects,  and  they  begged  her 
to  marry.  They  said  she  was  possessed  of  four  notable  gifts.  That 
she  was  of  the  most  noble  blood  in  the  world  ;  that  she  surpassed 
all  others  in  wealth,  knowledge,  and  beauty ;  and  they  desired  that 
she  should  give  them  an  heir.  She  replied  that  as  she  had  four 
gifts,  so  he  whom  she  would  marry,  must  likewise  be  of  such  noble 
blood  that  all  would  worship  him;  and  so  great  as  not  to  be  in- 
debted to  her  for  being  made  a  king,  richer  than  any  other ;  so 


(Mucke.)  St.  Catherine  borne  to  Mt.  Sinai. 


beautiful  that  angels  should  desire  to  see  him  ;  and  so  benign  as  to 
forgive  all  offenses.  Such  a  one  only  could  she  marry.  Then 
Sabinella  and  the  people  were  sorrowful,  for  they  knew  of  no  such 
man.  But  Catherine  would  marry  no  other.  Now  a  hermit  who 
dwelt  in  a  desert  not  far  from  Alexandria,  was  sent  by  the  Virgin 
Mary,  who  appeared  to  him,  to  tell  Catherine  that  her  Son  was  the 
husband  she  desired  to  have,  for  he  posses-ed  all  the  requirements, 
and  more.  And  the  hermit  gave  Catherine  a  picture  of  Mary  and 
Jesus.  When  she  gazed  on  his  face,  she  loved  Him,  and  could 
think  of  nothing  else,  and  her  studies  became  dull  to  her.  That 
night  she  had  a  dream,  in  which  she  Avent  with  the  old  hermit  to  a 
sanctuary  on  a  high  mountain  ;  and  when  she  approached  it,  angels 
5 


66 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


came  to  meet  her,  and  she  fell  on  her  face.  But  an  angel  said, 
"  Stand  up,  our  dear  sister  Catherine,  for  thee  hath  the  King  of 
glory  delighted  to  honor."  Then  she  stood  up  and  followed  them, 
and  they  led  her  to  a  chamber,  where  the  queen  was,  surrounded  by 
angels,  saints,  and  martyrs,  and  her  beauty  none  could  describe. 
The  angels  presented  Catherine  to  her,  and  besought  her  to  receive 
her  as  her  daughter.  The  queen  bade  her  welcome,  and  led  her  to 
our  Lord.  But  the  Lord  turned  away,  saying,  "  She  is  not  fair 
and  beautiful  enough  for  me."  At  these  words  Catherine  awoke, 
and  wept  till  morning.  She  called  the  hermit  and  demanded 
what  would  make  her  worthy  of  her  celestial  Bridegroom.  He, 


(Titian.)   Marriage  of  St.  Catherine. 

perceiving  the  darkness  of  her  mind,  instructed  her  in  the  true 
faith,  and  she,  and  also  Sabinella,  were  baptized.  That  night,  as 
Catherine  slept,  the  Virgin  and  her  Son,  attended  by  many  angels, 
appeared  to  her,  and  Mary  again  presented  her  to  Jesus,  saying, 
"Lo,  she  hath  been  baptized,  and  I  myself  have  been  her  god- 
mother." Then  Christ  smiled  on  her,  and  plighted  his  troth  to  her, 
and  put  a  ring  on  her  finger.  And  when  she  awoke,  the  ring  was 
still  there ;  and  from  that  time  she  despised  all  earthly  things,  and 
thought  only  of  the  time  when  she  should  go  to  her  heavenly  Bride- 
groom. At  length  the  good  Sabinella  died.  At  this  time  Maximin 
came  to  Alexandria  and  declared  a  great  persecution  against  those 
who  did  not  worship  idols.    Then  Catherine  came  forth  to  the  tern- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


67 


pie  and  held  an  argument  with  the  tyrant  and  confounded  him. 
He  then  ordered  fifty  learned  men  to  come  from  all  parts  of  the 
empire  to  dispute  with  her ;  but  she,  praying  to  God,  overcame  them 
all,  so  that  they,  too,  declared  themselves  Christians.  Then  Maxi- 
min,  enraged,  commanded  them  to  be  burned;  and  Catherine  com- 
forted them  when  they  could  not  be  baptized,  saying  that  their  blood 
should  be  their  baptism,  and  the  flames  glorious  crowns  for  them. 
Then  the  emperor,  admiring  her  beauty,  tried  to  overcome  her  vir- 
tue ;  and  when  he  could  not  do  this,  and  was  about  to  go  to  war,  he 
commanded  Porphyry,  his  servant,  to  cast  her  in  a  dungeon  and 
starve  her.  But  angels  came  to  feed  her ;  and  when,  after  twelve 
days,  they  opened  the  dungeon,  a  bright  light  and  a  fragrance  filled 
all  the  place.  Then  the  empress  and  Porphyry,  with  two  hundred 
others,  fell  at  the  feet  of  Catherine,  and  declared  themselves  Chris- 
tians. When  Maximin  returned,  he  put  the  empress  and  all  to  death, 
and,  admiring  Catherine's  beauty  still  more  than  at  first,  ofiered  her 
to  be  mistress  of  the  world  if  she  would  listen  to  him.  When  she 
still  rejected  his  offers,  he  ordered  the  most  dreadful  tortures  for  her 
—  wheels  revolving  in  different  directions,  that  should  tear  her  in 
many  pieces.  When  they  had  bound  her  to  these,  an  angel  came 
and  consumed  the  wheels  in  fire,  and  the  fragments  flew  around,  and 
killed  the  executioners  and  three  thousand  people.  But  again 
Maximin  ordered  her  to  be  scourged  and  beheaded.  Then  angels 
came  and  bore  her  body  to  the  top  of  Mount  Sinai,  and  there  it  rested 
in  a  marble  sarcophagus.  In  the  eighth  century  a  monastery  was 
built  over  her  burial-place,  and  her  remains  are  still  greatly  vener- 
ated. It  is  said  by  some  that  Maximin  was  consumed  by  an  inward 
fire ;  by  others,  that  wild  beasts  devoured  him.  Catherine  is  patron- 
ess of  education,  science,  and  philosophy,  of  all  students  and  of 
colleges.  As  patroness  of  eloquence,  she  was  invoked  for  all  diseases 
of  the  tongue.  She  is  also  patroness  of  Venice,  and  a  favorite  saint 
of  ladies  of  royal  birth.  She  is  represented  as  richly  dressed, 
and  her  peculiar  attribute  is  the  wheel,  either  whole  or  broken. 
She  has  also  the  martyr's  palm,  the  crown  of  royalty,  the  book 
which  expresses  her  learning,  and  frequently  tramples  on  the  head 
of  Maximin,  which  is  a  symbol  of  the  triumph  of  her  Christian  faith 
over  paganism  and  cruelty.  The  marriage  of  St.  Catherine  to  the 
Saviour  is  a  favorite  and  extremely  beautiful  subject  of  art.  No- 
vember 25,  A.  D.  307. 

St.  Catherine  of  Bologna,  or  Santa  Caterina  de'  Vigri,  has  been 
greatly  venerated  in  her  own  city  for  about  two  centuries.  She 
was  of  noble  family,  and  for  a  time  a  maid  of  honor  at  the  court  of 
Ferrara.  She  entered  a  convent  of  Poor  Clares,  and  became  dis- 
tinguished as  a  painter.  There  are  said  to  be  several  pictures  of 
hers  in  Bologna.  Her  remains,  dressed  in  brocade  and  jewels,  are  to 
be  seen  in  her  convent  at  Bologna.    March  9,  a.  d.  1463. 


68 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


St.  Catherine  of  Siena  (Lat.  Sancta  Catharina  Senese,  Virgo 
admirabilis,  et  gloriosa  Sponsa  Christi ;  Ital  Santa  Caterina  di 
Siena,  la  Santissima  Vergine).  She  was  the  daughter  of  a  dyer  who 
dwelt  near  the  Fonte-Branda,  at  Siena ;  his  dwelling  is  now  the  Or- 
atory of  St.  Catherine.  She  dedicated  hersell'  to  a  religious  life  as 
early  as  in  her  eighth  year,  and  prayed  Christ  to  be  her  Bridegroom, 
as  He  was  that  of  Catherine  of  Alexandria.   Her  father  and  mother 


(Razzi.)  San  Domenico,  Siena.    St.  Catherine  of  Siena  receiving  the  Stigmata. 


were  angry  at  her  refusal  to  marry,  and  greatly  persecuted  her,  put- 
ting the  most  menial  labors  upon  her,  and  treating  her  with  great 
harshness.  But  at  length,  her  father  saw  her  at  prayer  with  a  white 
dove  resting  upon  her  head,  of  whose  presence  she  seemed  unconscious. 
From  this  time,  she  was  allowed  to  choose  her  own  course  in  life. 
She  never  entered  a  convent  as  a  professed  nun,  but  she  made  a  vow 
of  silence  for  three  years,  and  led  a  life  of  the  greatest  self-denial.  She 
went  each  day  to  the  Convent  of  St.  Dominick  to  pray,  and  there  she 
had  many  wonderful  visions.     She  was  greatly  tempted  of  Satan  — 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


69 


slie  inflicted  upon  herself  the  most  severe  penances,  and  Christ  came 
to  her  in  visible  presence  to  console  her.  She  nursed  the  sick,  even 
those  who  had  the  most  loathsome  diseases.  Her  fame  spread  through 
all  Tuscany  and  to  Milan  and  Naples.  At  length  the  Florentines, 
having  rebelled  against  the  Holy  See,  were  excommunicated  by  the 
pope,  and  they  sent  Catherine  to  him  as  their  mediator.  The  pope, 
then  at  Avignon,  was  so  much  pleased  with  Catherine  that  he  left 
her  to  decide  the  terms  of  peace  between  himself  and  the  Florentines. 
Catherine  felt  it  to  be  a  great  cause  of  misrule  in  the  church,  that 
the  popes  were  absent  from  Rome,  and  she  used  all  her  powers  to  per- 
suade Gregory  XI.  to  return  to  the  Lateran,  which  he  did,  Cather- 
ine accompanying  him.  In  the  great  schism  which  followed  the  death 
of  Gregory,  Catherine  took  the  part  of  Urban  YL,  who  appointed  her 
ambassadress  to  the  court  of  Joanna  II.  of  Naples.  But  the  dan- 
ger of  the  journey  prevented  her  from  fulfilling  the  mission.  Cather- 
ine died  at  thirty -three,  after  great  physical  suflering  —  still  full  of 
zeal  and  faith.  She  was  one  of  the  most  noted  of  female  saints,  and 
is  known  at  Siena  as  La 
Santa.  The  facts  of  her 
history  render  her  life  in- 
teresting in  many  ways. 
She  is  represented  in  pic- 
tures in  the  habit  of  the 
Dominican  Order,  with 
the  stigmata,  which  she  is 
said  to  have  received. 
April  30,  A.  D.  1380. 

St.  Cecilia  {Fr.  Saint 
Cecile).  She  is  supposed 
to  have  lived  in  the  third 
century,  and  the  honor  paid 
to  her  can  be  traced  to 
that  time.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  a  noble  Ro- 
man, who,  with  his  wife, 
had  secretly  become  Chris- 
tians. Cecilia  was  in  child- 
hood remarkably  serious 
and  pious.  She  early  made 
a  vow  of  chastity,  and  de- 
voted herself  to  a  religious 
life.  She  always  carried  a 
copy  of  the  Gospels  in  her  ^ 
robe.  She  especially  ex- 
celled in  music,  and  com- 
posed and  sung  hymns  so 


(Raphael.)    St.  Cecilia. 


70 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


sweet  that  angels  came  to  listen  to  her.  But  the  instruments  em- 
ployed in  secular  music  were  insufficient  to  express  the  music  of 
her  soul,  and  she  invented  the  organ,  and  consecrated  it  to  God's 
service.  Her  parents  desired  her,  when  sixteen  years  old,  to  marry 
Valerian,  a  rich  young  noble.  She  did  so,  but  beneath  her  bridal 
robes  she  wore  a  garment  of  penance,  and,  remembering  her  vow, 
prayed  God  to  help  her  to  preserve  her  chastity.  He  so  answered 
her  prayer,  that  when  she  told  Valerian  of  her  faith,  he  became 
converted,  and  was  baptized,  and  respected  her  vow.  Cecilia 
had  told  Valerian  that  she  had  a  guardian  angel,  and  when  he 
returned  from  his  baptism,  he  heard  sweet  music,  and  saw  the 
angel  standing  near  her  with  two  crowns,  made  of  the  immortal 
roses  which  bloom  in  Paradise.  Cecilia  and  Valerian  knelt,  and 
the  angel  crowned  them  with  the  flowers,  and  told  Valerian,  that  be- 
cause he  had  listened  to  Cecilia,  and  respected  her  vow,  whatever  he 
most  desired  should  be  granted  him.  Then  Valerian  said,  "  I  have 
a  brother,  named  Tiburtius,  whom  I  love  as  my  own  soul ;  grant  that 
his  eyes  also  maybe  opened  to  the  truth."  This  request  was  pleasing 
to  God,  and  when  Tiburtius  entered  soon  after  and  perceived  the 
fragance  of  the  roses,  he  was  surprised,  for  it  was  not  the  time  of 
flowers.  Then  Cecilia  told  him  of  their  faith,  and  he  too  was  con- 
verted and  baptized.  They  then  gave  themselves  up  to  a  religious  life, 
and  did  much  good  to  the  poor  and  persecuted  Christians.  But  the 
prefect,  Almachius,  commanded  them  to  worship  Jupiter,  and  when 
they  would  not,  he  cast  the  brothers  into  prison,  and  gave  them  a 
keeper,  called  Maximus,  and  he  also  became  a  Christian.  This  so 
enraged  the  prefect,  that  he  commanded  the  three  to  be  beheaded. 
Cecilia  cared  for,  and  buried  their  remains  in  the  cemetery  of  Calix- 
tus.  Desiring  to  have  her  great  wealth,  the  prefect  then  commanded 
Cecilia  to  worship  Jupiter,  and  threatened  her  with  fearful  tortures. 
She  only  smiled  her  scorn.  He  then  commanded  her  to  be  thrown 
into  her  bath,  filled  with  boiling  water.  This  did  not  hurt  her  at 
all ;  so  he  then  sent  an  executioner  to  slay  her  with  the  sword. 
His  hand  trembled,  so  that  he  inflicted  three  wounds  on  her  neck 
and  breast,  and  yet  did  not  kill  her.  She  lingered  three  days. 
She  gave  her  money  to  the  poor,  and  desired  that  her  house  should 
be  made  a  church.  She  died  sweetly  singing,  and  was  buried 
beside  her  husband.  In  the  ninth  century,  when  Paschal  repaired 
her  church,  he  had  a  vision  of  St.  Cecilia,  in  which  she  told  him  her 
burial  place.  Her  body  was  found,  and  also  those  of  Valerian,  Tibur- 
tius, and  Maximus.  They  were  placed  in  her  church,  now  called 
St.  Cecilia-in-Trastevere.  Her  bath-room  is  a  chapel,  and  the  stones 
and  pipes  for  heating  the  bath  still  remain.  In  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury the  church  was  again  repaired,  and  her  coffin  opened,  when  the 
celebrated  statue  of  ^'  St.  Cecilia  lying  dead,"  was  made,  and  repre- 
sents her  as  she  appeared  in  the  coffin.    She  is  the  patroness  of  mu- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


71 


sic  and  musicians.  Her  proper  attribute  is  the  organ  and  a  roll  of 
music.  She  also  has  the  crown  of  roses  and  an  attendant  angel. 
She  is  richly  dressed,  and  often  has  jewels.    November  22,  A.  d.  280. 

St.  Celsus  {Ital.  San  Celso).  This  was  a  young  disciple  of  St. 
Nazarius,  who  was  a  converted  Jew.  Together  they  travelled 
through  Gaul  as  missionary  preachers.  At  Genoa  the  people  threw 
them,  into  the  sea,  but  they  were  miraculously  saved,  and  came  at 
last  to  Milan,  where  Protasius  and  Gervasius  had  become  Chris- 
tians, whom  they  strengthened.  Both  Celsus  and  Nazarius  were 
beheaded  at  Milan,  where  there  is  a  beautiful  church,  San  Nazaro 
Maggiore.  There  is  also  at  Eavenna  the  remarkable  Byzantine 
church  of  SS.  Nazaro-e-Celso.  They  are  always  represented  to- 
gether, and  bear  the  swords  and  palms  of  martyrs.  Nazarius  is  old 
and  Celsus  quite  young.      July  28. 

St.  Cesareo,  or  Caesarius.  The  veneration  of  this  saint  seems 
to  be  confined  to  Rome.  He  perished  at  Terracina  because  he  op- 
posed the  worship  of  Apollo.  He  was  famous  both  in  the  East 
and  West  in  the  sixth  century.  The  Church  of  San  Cesareo  in 
Rome  is  also  called  "  in  Palatio,"  from  its  situation  near  the  ancient 
palace  and  baths  of  Caracalla  on  the  Via  Appia,  not  far  from  the 
Porta  St.  Sebastiano.  He  was  put  into  a  sack,  and  cast  into  the 
sea,  together  with  a  priest  named  Lucian.    November  1,  a.  d.  300. 

St.  Chad  of  Lichfield  became,  in  659,  abbot  of  the  Priory  of 
Lastingham,  which  had  been  founded  by  his  eldest  brother,  Cedd. 
He  was  famous  for  his  religious  life,  and  being  made  bishop  of  the 
Mercians  and  Northumbrians,  he  preached  as  a  missionary  through 
all  the  country.  He  had  his  episcopal  see  in  Lichfield,  "  the  field 
of  the  dead,"  and  there  he  built  a  habitation  where  he  lived  with  a 
few  brethren,  and  a  church  where  he  baptized  his  converts.  After 
living  in  this  way  more  than  two  years,  he  had  a  vision  in  which 
he  was  warned  of  his  death.  He  saw  his  brother  with  a  troop  of 
angels.  They  sang  and  called  him  to  follow  them  to  God,  and  still 
sweetly  singing  ascended  to  heaven.  He  advised  the  brethren  how 
they  should  live,  and  soon  died.  His  church  may  be  considered 
the  origin  of  the  Cathedral  of  Lichfield,  where  the  shrine  of  St.  Chad 
was  deposited  in  1148,  and  is  greatly  venerated.    March  2,  A.  d.  673. 

Chantal,  la  Mere.  Ste.  Jeanne-Fran9oise  de  Chantal  was  the 
grandmother  of  Madame  de  Sevigne.  She  was  a  religious  enthusi- 
ast even  in  childhood,  and  would  not  receive  a  gift  from  a  Calvinist. 
In  obedience  to  her  parents,  she  married  Baron  Chantal,  but  made 
a  vow  to  dedicate  herself  to  a  religious  life,  if  she  should  ever  be  a 
widow.  Her  husband  died  when  she  was  twenty-nine,  and  for  ten 
years  she  devoted  herself  to  her  children  and  to  the  preparation 
for  the  fulfillment  of  her  vow.  She  assisted  St.  Francis  de  Sales  to 
establish  the  Order  of  the  Visitation,  and  assumed  the  direction  of 
it,  as  la  Mere  Chantal.    Her  children  loved  her  passionately,  and 


72 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


sought  to  keep  her  with  them,  but  she  remained  firm  in  her  deter- 
mination. At  the  time  of  her  death  in  1641,  there  were  seventy- 
five  houses  of  her  Order  in  France  and  Savoy.  She  was  canonized 
in  1769.     August  21,  A.  D.  1641. 

St.  Charles  Borromeo  {Ital.  San  Carlo).  This  saint  was  of 
one  of  the  noblest  families  of  Lombardy.  Being  the  second  son  he 
was  early  dedicated  to  the  Church.  At  twelve  years  of  age  he  re- 
ceived the  revenues  of  a  rich  Benedictine  monastery,  but  would  only 
reserve  a  mere  pittance  for  himself,  devoting  the  remainder  to  char- 
ity. At  twenty-three  he  was  made  cardinal  and  Archbishop  of  Mi- 
lan, by  his  uncle  Pius  lY.  His  elder  brother  died  when  Charles 
w^as  twenty-six.  He  went  at  once  to  take  }30ssession  of  his  diocese 
and  estate.  His  incomes  he  dedicated  to  public  uses,  only  spending 
for  himself  enough  to  buy  his  bread  and  water,  and  straw  on  which 
to  sleep.  He  sent  missionaries  to  preach  in  every  part  of  his  dio- 
cese, and  went  also  himself  to  see  that  his  people  were  cared  for. 
In  public  he  lived  as  became  his  rank,  and  gave  feasts  of  which  he 
never  partook.  His  charities  were  most  munificent.  At  the  time 
of  the  plague  at  Milan,  he  went  into  the  city,  when  all  others  fled, 
and  tended  the  sick  and  performed  all  the  duties  pertaining  to  his 
office.  His  example  inspired  twenty-eight  priests  to  join  him,  all 
of  whom  with  St.  Charles  escaped  unhurt.  He  lived  in  a  time 
when  the  Church  had  fallen  into  great  laxity  of  discipline,  and  he 
may  be  regarded  as  a  powerful  instrument  in  rescuing  it  from  de- 
struction. He  was  hated  by  the  priests  who  had  been  in  the  habit 
of  using  the  revenues  of  the  Church  for  their  own  indulgence,  and 
one,  Fra  Farina,  attempted  to  kill  him  by  firing  upon  him,  while  he 
was  celebrating  the  evening  service.  He  finished  the  prayer,  al- 
though he  believed  himself  mortally  wounded,  and  the  people  con- 
sidered him  to  be  miraculously  healed.  He  died  November  4, 
1584,  and  with  his  last  breath  exclaimed,  ^'  Ecce  venio."  His  re- 
mains repose  in  a  rich  shrine  at  Milan.  He  is  represented  in  cardi- 
nal's robes  and  barefooted,  a  rope  about  his  neck  and  one  hand  raised 
in  benediction,  with  a  book  in  the  other.    November  4,  A.  r>.  1584. 

St.  Charlemagne,  whose  history  as  Charlemagne  the  Great, 
Emperor  of  France,  Italy,  and  Germany,  is  so  familiar  to  all,  stands 
at  the  head  of  royal  saints  in  the  countries  over  which  he  ruled, 
although  if  a  strict  chronology  were  observed,  St.  Clotilda  and  St. 
Sigismond  would  precede  him.  He  is  frequently  represented  with 
a  book,  in  remembrance  of  his  having  caused  the  Scriptures  to  be 
correctly  translated  and  widely  promulgated.    January  28,  A.  D.  814. 

St.  Cheron  was  a  disciple  of  St.  Denis,  and  was  Bishop  of  Cliar- 
tres.  He  was  attacked  by  robbers  and  his  head  struck  off,  when 
on  his  way  from  Chartres  to  Paris  to  visit  St.  Denis.  Taking  his 
head  in  his  hand  he  continued  his  journey.  One  of  the  windows 
in  the  Cathedral  of  Chartres  represents  the  history  of  St.  Cheron. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


73 


St.  Christina  {Ital.  Santa  Cristina;  Fr.  Ste.  Christine).  She 

is  supposed  to  have  been  born  at  Tiro,  a  town  on  the  borders  of 
Lake  Bolsena  which  has  since  been  swallowed  up  in  the  lake.  The 
legend  of  this  saint  has  been  rejected  by  the  Church,  but  she  is  cel- 
ebrated in  Central  and  Northern  Italy.     She  was  the  child  of  a 


(Johan  Schoreel.    Munich  Gal.)    St.  Christina. 

Roman  patrician  who  governed  the  city.  She  called  herself  Chris- 
tina because  she  had  been  converted  to  the  doctrines  of  Christ.  As 
she  stood,  one  day,  watching  those  who  begged  alms,  and  had  noth- 
ing to  give,  she  thought  of  the  golden  idols  of  her  father,  and  she 
broke  them  in  pieces  and  gave  them  to  the  poor.  Her  father  was 
furious,  and  ordered  his  servants  to  beat  her  and  throw  her  in  a 
dungeon.  Here  angels  came  and  healed  her  wounds.  Her  father 
then  commanded  her  to  be  thrown  into  the  lake  with  a  mill-stone 
tied  to  her  neck.  But  angels  bore  her  up,  and  God  clothed  her  with 


74 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


a  white  robe,  and  led  her  safely  to  land.  She  was  then  thrown  into 
a  fiery  furnace,  where  she  remained  unharmed  five  days  and  sung 
God's  praises.  Her  father  then  ordered  her  head  to  be  shaved, 
and  that  she  should  then  be  taken  to  the  temple  of  Apollo  to  sacri- 
fice, but  when  she  came  there  the  idol  fell  down  before  her,  which 
so  frightened  her  father  that  he  died.  But  Julian,  hearing  that 
she  sung  in  her  prison,  sent  orders  that  her  tongue  should  be  cut 
out,  when  she  still  continued  to  sing,  to  the  amazement  of  all.  She 
was  next  shut  up  with  poisonous  reptiles,  but  she  was  not  harmed. 
At  last,  in  despair,  he  commanded  her  to  be  bound  to  a  post  and 
shot  with  arrows  till  she  died.  Thus  was  she  martyred,  and  angels 
bore  her  soul  to  heaven.  On  an  island  in  the  lake  of  Bolsena, 
which  few  travellers  visit,  is  a  church  dedicated  to  St.  Christine, 
said  to  have  been  painted  by  the  Caracci.  The  Cathedral  of  Bolsena 
is  consecrated  to  her  —  Patroness  of  Bolsena  and  the  Venetian  States. 
Her  proper  attribute  is  the  mill-stone,  but  she  sometimes  has  arrows 
alone,  when  she  might  be  mistaken  for  St.  Ursula.  She  has  also 
the  martyr's  palm  and  crown.    July  24,  A.  D.  295. 

St.  Christopher  {LaL  St.  Christophorus ;  l  al.  San  Cristofero, 
or  Cristofano ;  Fr.  St.  Christophe,  or  Cristofle ;  Ger.  Der  Heilige 
Christoph).  St.  Christopher  might  well  be  called  the  giant  saint. 
He  was  of  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  before  performing  the  deeds 
which  entitled  him  to  his  saintship  was  called  OfFero,  which  signi- 
fies the  bearer.  He  was  proud  of  his  vast  size  and  strength,  but 
in  spite  of  this,  his  poverty  compelled  him  to  become  a  servant.  So 
he  resolved  that  the  most  powerful  monarch  of  the  earth  alone 
should  be  his  master,  and  he  went  to  seek  him.  At  length  after 
many  days  of  wandering,  he  came  to  the  court  of  a  king  said  to 
excel  all  others  in  power  and  wealth,  and  to  him  he  offered  his  ser- 
vices. The  king  accepted  him  gladly,  for  no  other  monarch  of  all 
the  earth  could  boast  of  such  a  servant.  Now  Offero  knew  nothing 
of  the  power  of  Christ  or  Satan,  and  supposed  his  master  to  be 
afraid  of  no  one,  since  he  was  the  greatest  monarch  of  the  earth  \ 
but  one  day  as  he  stood  beside  him,  a  minstrel  who  was  singing, 
mentioned  frequently  the  name  of  Satan,  and  each  time  he  did  so 
the  king  trembled  and  crossed  himself.  Offero  asked  the  meaning 
of  this,  and  when  the  king  did  not  answer,  he  said,  "  If  thou  dost 
not  answer  me  this,  I  leave  thee."  Then  the  king  said,  "  I  make 
this  sign  that  Satan  may  have  no  power  over  me ;  for  he  is  very 
mighty,  and  as  wicked  as  strong,  and  I  fear  lest  he  shall  overcome 
me."  Then  Offero  felt  himself  deceived,  and  said,  Since  there  is 
one  whom  thou  fearest,  him  will  I  seek  and  serve,  for  my  master 
must  fear  no  one."  So  he  wandered  again,  seeking  Satan ;  and 
crossing  a  great  desert,  he  saw  a  terrible  being  with  the  appearance 
of  great  power,  marching  at  the  head  of  an  armed  legion.  He  did 
not  seem  to  notice  the  great  size  of  OfFero,  and  with  an  air  of 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


76 


authority  said,  "  Wliither  goest  thou,  and  for  what  dost  thou  seek  ?  " 
Then  said  OfFero,  "  I  wish  to  find  Satan,  for  I  have  heard  he  is  the  most 
powerful  of  all  the  earth,  and  I  would  have  him  for  my  master." 
Satan,  well  pleased,  replied,  I  am  he,  and  your  service  shall  be  an 
easy  and  pleasant  one."  OfFero  then  bowed  before  him,  and  joined 
his  followers.  After  a  time  as  they  journeyed  on,  they  came  to  a 
cross,  erected  by  the  wayside,  where  four  roads  met.  Wlien  the 
Devil  saw  this  he  turned  with  great  haste  and  fear,  and  went  a  long 
distance  out  of  his  way  to  avoid  the  cross.  Then  said  OfFero, 
"  Why  is  this  ?  What  is  this  cross,  and  wherefore  dost  thou  avoid 
it  ?  "  But  Satan  spoke  not.  Then  said  OfFero,  "  Except  thou  tell- 
est  me  I  must  leave  thee."  Being  compelled,  the  wicked  one  re- 
plied, "I  fear  the  cross,  because  upon  it  Jesus  died,  and  when  I  be- 
hold it,  I  fly,  lest  he  should  overcome  me."  Then  said  OfFero, 
"  Tell  me,  who  is  this  Jesus,  for  since  thou  fearest  him,  he  is  more 
powerful  than  thou,  and  him  will  I  seek  and  serve."  So  he  left 
Satan,  and  wandered  many  days  in  search  of  Christ.  At  length 
he  came  to  a  hermit,  whom  he  entreated  to  tell  him  where  Christ 
could  be  found.  Then  the  hermit,  seeing  that  he  knew  nothing  of 
Jesus,  began  to  teach  him,  and  said,  "  Thou  art  right  in  believing 
that  Christ  is  the  greatest  king,  for  his  power  extends  over  both 
heaven  and  earth,  and  will  endure  throughout  eternity.  But  thou 
canst  not  serve  him  lightly,  and  if  he  accepts  thee,  he  will  impose 
great  duties  upon  thee,  and  will  require  that  thou  fast  often."  Then 
said  Offero,  "  I  will  not  fast,  for  it  is  my  strength  that  makes  me  a 
good  servant :  why  should  I  waste  it  by  fasting  ?  "  "  And  besides, 
thou  must  pray,"  said  the  hermit.  "  I  know  not  how  to  pray, 
neither  will  I  learn.  Such  a  service  is  for  weak  ones,  but  not  for  me," 
said  the  proud  giant.  Then  said  the  hermit,  "  If  thou  wilt  use  thy 
strength,  knowest  thou  a  deep,  wide  river,  that  is  often  swollen 
with  rains,  and  sweeps  away  in  its  swift  current  many  of  those  who 
would  cross  it  ?  "  OfFero  said,  "  I  know  such  a  stream."  Then 
go  there,"  said  the  hermit,  "  and  aid  those  who  struggle  with  its 
waves ;  and  the  weak  and  the  little  ones,  bear  thou  from  shore  to 
shore,  on  thy  broad  shoulders.  This  is  a  good  work,  and  if  Christ 
will  have  thee  for  this  service,  he  will  assure  thee  of  his  accept- 
ance." Then  was  OfFero  glad,  for  this  was  a  task  which  suited 
him  well.  So  he  went  to  the  river  and  built  upon  its  bank  a  hut 
of  the  boughs  of  trees.  And  he  aided  all  who  came,  and  many  he 
bore  upon  his  shoulders,  and  was  never  weary  by  day  or  night  in 
assisting  those  who  crossed  the  river.  And  after  he  began  his 
work,  not  one  perished,  where  before  so  many  had  been  swept  away. 
For  a  staff  he  used  a  palm-tree  which  he  pulled  up  in  the  forest, 
and  it  was  not  too  large  for  his  great  height  and  strength.  As 
Jesus  beheld  this  he  was  well  pleased  with  OfFero  and  his  labor,  for 
though  he  would  neither  fast  nor  pray,  yet  had  he  found  a  way  to 


76 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


serve  him.  At  length,  after  Offero  had  spent  a  long  thne,  and  did 
not  weary  of  his  toil,  as  he  rested  one  night  in  his  hut,  he  heard  a 
voice  like  that  of  a  weak  child,  and  it  said,  "  Offero,  wilt  thou  carry 
me  over  ?  "  And  he  went  out  quickly,  but  he  could  find  no  one. 
But  when  he  had  again  laid  down,  the  same  voice  called  as  before, 
and  at  the  third  call  he  arose  and  sought  with  a  lantern.  At  last 
he  found  a  little  child  who  besought  him,  "  Offero,  Offero,  carry  me 
over  to-night."    He  lifted  him  up,  and  carrying  his  staff,  began  to 


thy  shoulders.  As  a  sign  of  my  power  and  of  my  approbation  of 
thee,  fix  thou  thy  staff  in  the  earth,  and  it  shall  grow  and  bear 
fruit."  Offero  did  so,  and  the  staff  was  soon  covered  with  leaves, 
and  the  dates  hung  in  huge  clusters  upon  it.  But  the  wonderful 
child  was  gone.  Then  Offero  knew  that  it  was  Christ  whom  he 
had  borne,  and  he  fell  down  and  worshipped  Him.  After  that, 
Offero  went  to  Samos,  where  there  was  a  great  persecution  of  Chris- 
tians, and  in  spite  of  his  great  strength  a  heathen  struck  him,  when 
he  said,  "  Were  I  not  a  Christian,  I  would  take  vengeance  on  thee." 
He  permitted  himself  to  be  bound  and  taken  to  Dagnus,  the  King 


(Albert  Durer,  1521.)  St.  Christopher. 


cross  the  stream.  Im- 
mediately the  winds 
blew,  the  waves  were 
tossed,  and  the  roar 
of  the  waters  was  as 
many  thunders,  and 
the  little  child  grew 
heavy  and  more  heavy, 
until  Offero  feared  he 
should  himself  sink,  and 
both  be  lost.  But  with 
the  aid  of  his  palm 
staff,  at  length  he 
crossed  and  put  his 
burden  safely  down 
upon  the  other  side. 
Then  he  cried  out, 
"  Whom  have  I  borne  1 
Had  it  been  the  whole 
world,  it  could  not 
have  been  more  hea- 
vy !  "  Then  the  child 
replied,  Me,  thou  hast 
desired  to  serve,  and  T 
have  accepted  thee. 
Thou  hast  borne  not 
only  the  whole  world, 
but  he  who  made  it,  on 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


11 


of  Lycia,  in  which  country  was  Samos.  At  the  sight  of  the  giant 
the  king  fainted.  When  he  was  himself  again  he  said,  "  Who  art 
thou  ?  "  and  the  giant  answered,  "  My  first  name  was  Offero,  the 
Bearer,  but  now  I  serve  Christ,  and  have  borne  him  on  my  shoul- 
ders ;  for  this  I  am  now  called  Christ  OfFero,  the  bearer  of 
Christ."  Dagnus  sent  him  to  prison,  and  tried  to  seduce  him  to 
idolatry  by  sending  beautiful  women  to  him,  who  urged  him  to  sin. 
But  Christopher  was  faithful,  and  by  his  influence  the  women  be- 
came Christians,  and  suffered  death  because  they  too,  worshipped 
Jesus.  Then  Dagnus  tortured  him  greatly,  and  commanded  him  to 
be  beheaded.  Wlien  they  led  him  to  execution,  he  kneeled  down 
and  prayed,  that  all  who  beheld  him  and  believed  in  Christ  should 
be  delivered  from  earthquake,  fire,  and  tempest.  It  was  believed 
that  his  prayer  was  effectual,  and  that  all  who  look  upon  the  figure 
of  St.  Christopher  are  safe  for  that  day  from  all  dangers  of  earth- 
quake, flood,  or  fire.  The  sight  of  him  is  believed  also  to  impart 
strength  to  the  weak  and  weary,  which  idea  is  expressed  in  many 
inscriptions  more  or  less  similar  to  the  following  one,  which  accom- 
pany his  pictures  : — 

Christophori  Sancti  speciem  quiciimque  tuetur, 
Illo  namque  die  nullo  langiiore  tenetur." 

"  Whoever  shall  behold  the  image  of  St.  Christopher  shall  not 
faint  or  fail  on  that  day."    July  25  A.  D.  364. 

St.  Chrysanthus  {Ital  San  Grisante).  This  saint  came  to 
Rome  from  Alexandria,  and  St.  Daria  came  from  Athens.  They 
were  betrothed,  but  Chrysanthus  persuaded  Daria  that  a  state  of  vir- 
ginity was  more  favorable  to  a  religious  life  than  that  of  marriage. 
They  were  remarkable  for  their  devotion  to  their  faith.  They  were 
at  length  accused  and  martyred,  in  the  reign  of  Numerian,  according 
to  some,  but  Baillet  beheves  in  the  persecution  of  Valerian.  It  is 
said  that  soon  after  their  burial  a  large  number  of  Christians  who 
were  praying  at  their  tomb  were  walled  up  in  the  cave  and  thus  bur- 
ied alive.  The  part  of  the  catacombs  where  they  were  interred  was 
long  called  the  cemetery  of  SS.  Chrysanthus  and  Daria.  The  Greek 
Church  honor  them  on  March  19  and  October  17.  The  Latins 
October  25.     A.  d.  237. 

St.  Chrysogonus.  {Ital.  San  Grisogono.)     See  St.  Anastasia. 

St.  Clair  (LaU  S.  Clarus)  is  one  of  the  headless  saints.  He 
was  an  Enghshman  of  noble  extraction,  and  lived  and  labored  in 
the  county  of  Vexin  in  France.  He  preached  with  great  faithful- 
ness, and  was  murdered  at  a  village  which  bears  his  name  by  ruffians 
hired  by  a  lewd  woman  who  could  not  overcome  his  chastity.  This 
village  is  between  Rouen  and  Pontoise.  His  shrine  is  greatly  ven- 
erated and  visited  by  pilgrims.  He  is  represented  on  a  window  at 
St.  Maclou  in  Rouen.    November  4. 


78 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


St.  Clara  {LaU  Sancta  Clara ;  Itah  Santa  Chiara  ;  Fi\  Sainte 
Claire).  Clara  d'  Assisi  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  a  nobleman,  Favorino  ScifFo ;  her 
mother  was  named  Ortolana.  Her 
beauty  and  the  great  wealth  of  her  fam- 
ily caused  her  to  receive  many  offers  of 
marriage.  She  had  early  dedicated  her- 
self to  a  religious  life,  and  went  to  St. 
Francis  to  ask  his  advice.  He  encour- 
aged her  to  renounce  the  world,  and  ap- 
pointed Palm  Sunday  as  the  day  for  her 
to  make  her  profession.  She  went  to 
church  with  all  her  family  richly  attired, 
as  was  the  custom  on  that  day.  When 
the  others  approached  the  altar  she  re- 
mained afar  off,  and  St.  Francis,  ad- 
miring her  humility,  came  down  from 
the  altar  to  give  her  the  palm-branch. 
At  evening  she  concealed  herself  in  a 
veil,  and  escaped  to  the  Porzioncula 
where  St.  Francis  dwelt.  She  was  con- 
ducted to  the  altar,  where  St.  Francis  cut 
off  her  hair  with  his  own  hands,  and  she, 
putting  off  her  rich  garments,  was  cov- 
ered with  the  personal  penitential  robes 
of  Francis,  which  he  threw  over  her. 
Thus  she  became  his  disciple,  and  the 
"  Madre  Serafica,"  or  the  foundress  of 
the  Order  of  Franciscan  nuns,  or,  as  they 
are  better  known,  the  Poor  Clares." 
The  rules  of  her  order  were  severe  in  the 
extreme.  Clara  went,  by , the  wish  of  St.  Francis,  to  the  Convent  of 
St.  Paolo.  Her  family  and  friends  tried  every  means  to  induce  her 
to  return  to  them  without  effect,  and  in  a  short  time  she  was  fol- 
lowed by  her  sister  Agnes,  only  fourteen  years  old,  by  many  ladies 
of  rank,  among  whom  were  three  of  the  house  of  Ubaldini,  and  at 
length  by  her  mother.  Clara  so  strictly  adhered  to  the  rules  of  her 
order  as  to  injure  her  health,  and  for  a  long  time  she  was  bedrid- 
den. On  one  occasion,  when  the  Saracens,  to  whom  Frederick  had 
given  the  fortress  of  Nocera,  came  to  ravage  her  convent  of  San  Da- 
miano,  she  arose  from  her  bed  where  she  had  so  long  been  confined, 
and  placing  the  Pyx  which  contained  the  Host  upon  the  threshold 
she  kneeled  down  and  began  to  sing,  when  the  infidels  threw  down 
their  arms  and  fled.  Innocent  lY.  visited  her  and  confirmed  her 
Order  ;  and  before  her  death  it  had  spread  throughout  Christendom 
and  embraced  many  noble  ladies.     She  died  at  sixty  in  a  rapturous 


(Portrait  at  Assisi).    St.  Clara. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


79 


trance,  believing  lierself  called  to  heaven  by  angelic  voices.  Her 
sister  Agnes  succeeded  her  as  abbess.  When  the  nuns  removed  from 
San  Damiano  to  San  Giorgio  they  bore  her  remains  with  them.  This 
is  now  the  Church  of  Santa  Chiara  d'  Assisi,  and  is  the  most  famous 
one  of  her  order.  St.  Clara  is  a  favorite  saint  all  over  Europe,  but 
especially  so  in  Spain.  Her  proper  attribute  is  the  Pyx  containing 
the  Host.  She  wears  a  gray  tunic,  and  the  cord  of  St.  Francis  with 
a  black  veil.  She  also  bears  the  lily,  the  cross,  and  the  palm.  Au- 
gust 12,  A.  D.  1253. 

St.  Clara  of  Monte-Palco.  This  saint  was  of  the  Augustine 
order.  In  her  own  country  she  is  called  Saint  Clara,  but  she  was 
never  canonized.  She  is  properly  the  "Beata  Clara  della  Cruce  di 
Monte-Falco."  Her  birth  took  place  in  1268,  and  she  lived  quietly 
in  her  own  city,  which  from  its  height  overlooks  the  Umbrian  valleys. 
The  fame  of  her  miracles  and  the  sweetness  of  her  life  was  well 
known  through  all  the  country. 

St.  Clement  (ItaL  San  Clemente)  is  supposed  to  be  spoken 
of  by  the  Apostle  Paul  (Philippians  iv.  3).  He  was  the  third 
bishop  of  E,ome.  During  the  many  years  of  his  bishopric  he  made 
large  numbers  of  converts,  among  whom  was  Domitilla,  the  niece  of 
the  Emperor  Domitian,  and  by  her  influence  he  was  protected 
during  the  reign  of  her  uncle.  In  the  persecution  under  Trajan,  the 
prefect  who  governed  Rome  in  the  absence  of  the  emperor,  com- 
manded Clement  to  worship  the  idols,  and  when  he  would  not,  he 
banished  him  to  an  island  where  there  were  large  stone  quarries 
worked  by  convicts.  Many  Christians  had  been  sent  there  before 
him,  and  others  went  with  him  to  share  his  exile.  Clement  found 
those  on  the  island  suffering  for  want  of  water ;  he  knelt  and  prayed, 
and  looking  up  saw  a  lamb  on  the  summit  of  a  hill,  which  was 
invisible  to  all  others.  He  knew  it  to  be  the  lamb  of  God.  He 
went  to  the  spot  where  he  had  seen  it,  and  upon  digging  found  a 
large,  clear  spring  of  water.  After  this  miracle  he  was  condemned 
to  be  cast  into  the  sea  bound  to  an  anchor.  But  when  the  Christ- 
ians prayed,  the  waters  were  driven  back  for  three  miles,  and  they 
saw  a  ruined  temple  which  the  sea  had  covered,  and  in  it  was  found 
the  body  of  the  saint  with  the  anchor  round  his  neck.  For  many 
years,  at  the  anniversary  of  his  death,  the  sea  retreated  for  seven 
days,  and  pilgrimages  were  made  to  this  submarine  tomb.  At  one 
time  a  woman  was  praying  there,  and  her  child  had  fallen  asleep, 
when  the  waters  arose,  and  she  fled,  forgetting  the  child  in  her  fear. 
The  next  year  the  boy  was  found  quietly  sleeping  as  she  had  left  him. 
The  church  of  San  Clemente  in  Rome  is  of  remarkable  interest,  and 
the  scenes  of  his  life  are  represented  in  paintings  of  the  twelfth  cen- 
tury. According  to  tradition,  the  relics  of  the  saint  are  now  here, 
and  also  those  of  St.  Ignatius  of  Antioch.  His  proper  attribute  is 
the  anchor.    November  23,  a.  d.  100. 


80 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


St.  Clotilda  {Fr.  Sainte  Clotilde).  St.  Clotilda  was  a  Burgun- 
dian  princess,  and  the  wife  of  Clovis.  She  is  famed  as  having 
Christianized  France.  Her  husband,  after  long  resisting  her  attempts 
for  his  conversion,  called  upon  the  God  of  Clotilda  in  the  midst  of 
an  unfortunate  battle.  Immediately  the  fortunes  of  his  arms  were 
changed,  and  by  this  he  was  converted,  and  was  baptized  by  St. 
Remi.  At  his  baptism  it  is  said  that  the  oil  was  brought  by  a  dove, 
or  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  tradition  says  that  an  angel  descended  from 
heaven,  bearing  three  lilies,  which  he  gave  to  St.  Remi,  and  he  in 
turn  gave  them  to  Clotilda,  and  at  this  time  the  arms  of  France 
were  changed  from  the  three  toads  (crapauds)  of  earlier  days,  to 
the  fleurs-de-lys,  the  emblems  of  purity  and  regeneration.  June  3, 
A.  D.  545. 

St.  Cloud,  was  a  grandson  of  St.  Clotilda,  who,  when  his  broth- 
ers were  murdered,  escaped  to  a  convent,  and  became  a  monk  of 
the  Benedictine  order.     September  7,  A.  d.  560. 

Constantine,  Emperor. 

Constantine,  while  still  an  idol- 
ater and  a  persecutor  of  the 
Christians,  was  afflicted  with  a 
leprosy.  The  priests  of  the  idols 
prescribed  that  he  should  bathe 
in  children's  blood.  Three 
thousand  children  were  col- 
lected to  be  slain,  but  as  the 
emperor  rode  to  the  place 
where  they  were,  the  mothers  of 
the  children  so  entreated  him, 
that  he  stopped  his  chariot  and 
said,  Far  better  is  it  that  I 
should  die,  than  cause  the  death 
of  these  innocents."  He  then 
commanded  the  children  to  be 
restored  to  the  mothers,  and 
gave  them  large  gifts  to  com- 
pensate for  their  sufferings. 
That  night  in  his  sleep,  St.  Pe- 
ter and  St.  Paul  appeared  to 
him,  and  told  him  that  because 
he  had  spared  the  innocents, 
Christ  had  sent  them  to  him. 
They  told  him  to  send  for  Syl- 
vester, who  would  show  him  a 
pool  in  which  he  could  wash 
and  be  clean,  and  that  from 
that  time,  he  should  cease  to 


I C  Q  N  S  T  A  M  T  IN  V  S_  A_\g} 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


81 


persecute  tlie  Christians,  and  himself  worship  their  God.  Now 
Sylvester  was  the  bishop  of  Rome,  who  had  hid  away  from  the 
cruelties  of  Constantine  and  was  in  a  cave  near  Monte  Calvo. 
The  emperor  sent  for  him,  and  when  the  soldiers  found  him  and 
led  him  away,  he  thought  it  was  to  his  execution.  They  took 
him  to  the  emperor,  who  asked  him  who  the  two  gods  were 
who  had  appeared  to  him  the  previous  night.  Sylvester  replied, 
that  they  were  not  gods,  but  the  apostles  of  Jesus.  Constantine  then 
desired  to  see  the  effigies  of  these  apostles.  Sylvester  showed  him 
some  pictures  of  Peter  and  Paul,  and  Constantine  saw  that  they 
were  like  those  whom  he  had  seen  in  the  vision.  Sylvester  then 
baptized  him,  and  he  came  out  from  his  baptism  cured  of  his  dis- 
ease. The  next  day  Constantine  commanded  that  Christ  should  be 
worshipped  in  all  Rome  as  the  only  God  ;  the  next  day,  that  those 
who  blasphemed  against  him  should  lose  their  lives  ;  the  third  day, 
that  any  one  who  insulted  a  Christian  should  forfeit  half  his  goods ; 
the  fourth  day,  that  the  Bishop  of  Rome  should  be  the  first  bishop 
of  the  world  ;  the  next  day,  he  gave  the  privilege  of  sanctuary  to 
the  Christian  churches ;  the  sixth  he  ordered  that  no  churches 
should  be  built  without  the  consent  of  the  bishop ;  the  seventh,  that 
the  tithes  of  the  domains  of  Rome  should  belong  to  the  church  ;  and 
the  eighth  day,  he  founded  the  Lateran,  by  digging  himself,  and 
carrying  on  his  shoulders  twelve  hodfuls  of  earth,  and  laying  the 
first  stone.  Another  account  of  the  manner  of  his  conversion  to 
Christianity,  and  one  frequently  illustrated  in  art,  is,  that  during  the 
campaign  of  312,  while  on  his  march  to  Rome,  he  saw  a  luminous 
cross  in  the  sky,  with  the  inscription,  "  By  this  Conquer,"  and  that 
on  the  night  before  his  last  battle  with  Maxentius,  he  was  com- 
manded in  a  vision  to  inscribe  the  sacred  monogram  of  the  name 
of  Christ  upon  the  shields  of  his  soldiers.  Three  different  localities 
claim  the  honor  of  having  been  the  place  where  Constantine  beheld 
the  cross  5  these  are,  Autun,  Andernach,  and  Verona.  But  to 
these  miraculous  directions  and  the  success  which  followed  his  obedi- 
ence to  them,  is  attributed  his  belief  in  Christianity.  The  Empress 
Helena  told  him,  that  it  would  have  been  better  to  become  a  Jew 
than  a  Christian.  So  he  wrote  her  to  bring  to  dispute  with  Sylves- 
ter the  most  learned  of  the  Jews.  She  came  to  Rome  with  one 
hundred  and  forty  doctors  of  the  law.  A  day  was  appointed  for 
the  discussion,  and  Zeno  and  Crato,  Greek  philosophers,  were  ap- 
pointed arbitrators.  Then  Sylvester,  praying  for  wisdom,  utterly 
defeated  these  learned  Rabbis.  Then  one  of  them,  Zambri,  who 
was  a  magician,  desired  that  a  fierce  bull  should  be  brought,  and 
said  that  when  he  should  speak  in  his  ear  the  name  of  his  God,  he 
should  fall  dead.  The  bull  was  brought,  and  as  the  magician  had 
said,  he  fell  dead  at  his  feet  as  soon  as  he  had  whispered  to  him. 
Then  Sylvester  was  attacked  with  fury  ;  the  arbitrators  were  as- 
6 


82 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


tonislied,  and  ConsLantine  was  shaken  in  Ms  faith,  but  Sylvester  said 
that  the  name  he  had  spoken  was  that  of  Satan,  for  Christ  did  not 
destroy  but  gave  life.  He  desired  that  Zambri  should  restore  the 
bull  to  life.  This  he  could  not  do,  but  Sylvester  made  the  sign  of 
the  cross,  and  commanded  him  to  rise,  when  the  bull  obeyed  and 
rose  up  as  gentle  as  he  had  been  fierce.  Then  all  who  saw  this 
believed  and  were  baptized.  A  while  after  this  it  was  told  the 
emperor,  that  the  dragon  which  dwelt  in  the  moat  had  since  his 
conversion  killed  three  hundred  persons  each  day  by  his  poisonous 
breath.  Then  Sylvester  went  down  to  the  dragon  and  exorcised 
him  in  the  name  of  Christ,  and  bound  up  his  mouth  with  a  thread 
and  sealed  it  with  the  sign  of  the  cross.  Sylvester  also  gave  aid  in 
his  house  to  a  Christian,  who  was  afterward  slain  for  his  faith.  The 
governor  believed  that  Sylvester  had  riches  which  belonged  to  the 
martyr,  and  threatened  him  with  tortures  if  he  did  not  give  them 
up.  Sylvester  told  him  that  his  soul  should  be  in  torments  that 
night,  and  as  he  ate  his  dinner  he  was  choked  to  death.  There  is 
no  need  to  remind  one  that  history  and  the  legends  greatly  dhfer 
regarding  Constantine.  As  for  Sylvester,  he  was  at  the  great 
Nicene  Council,  and  after  governing  the  Church  for  nearly  twenty- 
four  years,  he  died  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Priscilla  at 
Rome.  The  proper  attribute  of  St.  Sylvester  is  the  bull.  Some- 
times the  portraits  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.  His  festival  is  De- 
cember 31,  and  he  died  in  335. 

St.  Cosmo  and  St.  Damian  (Latin  SS.  Cosmus  et  Damianus ; 
Ital.  SS.  Cosimo  e  Damiano  gli  santi  medici  Arabi ;  Fr.  SS.  Come 
et  Damien).  These  brother  saints  are  seldom  separated  in  thought 
or  representation.  They  were  Arabians,  but  dwelt  at  ^gae,  in  Ci- 
licia.  Their  father  died  early,  and  their  mother,  Theodora,  trained 
them  in  Christian  virtue.  Their  charities  were  extensive,  and  they 
studied  medicine  for  the  purpose  of  relieving  suffering,  and  refused 
all  compensation  for  their  labors.  They  did  not  refuse  to  relieve 
even  animals,  when  in  their  power.  They  became  most  skillful  physi- 
cians. In  the  time  of  Diocletian  they  were  seized  by  the  proconsul 
Lycias,  and  thrown  into  the  sea,  but  were  saved  by  an  angel.  They 
were  also  put  in  the  fire,  which  would  not  burn  them,  and  bound  to 
crosses  and  stoned,  but  none  of  the  stones  reached  them,  so  that  at 
last  they  were  beheaded.  They  were  patrons  of  medicine,  and  suc- 
ceeded to  the  honors  of  ^sculapius  among  the  Greeks.  They  have 
also  the  title  of  Anargyres  (without  fees).  They  were  patrons  of 
the  Medici  family,  as  is  seen  on  the  coins  of  Florence.  September  27, 
A.  D.  301. 

St.  Costanzo  Bishop  of  Perugia.  Nothing  is  known  of  this  saint 
but  that  he  suffered  martyrdom  in  the  reign  of  Marcus  Aurelius. 
The  country  between  Perugia  and  Foligno  is  called  the  "  Strada  di 
Costanza,"  and  he  is  much  venerated  in  that  portion  of  Italy. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


83 


St.  Crispin  and  St.  Crispianus  {Ital.  San  Crispino  e  San  Cris- 
piano ;  Fr.  SS.  Crespin  et  Crespmian).  These  saints  were  brothers, 
who  went  with  St.  Denis  from  Rome  to  preach  in  France.  They 
supported  themselves  by  making  shoes,  and  were  supplied  with  leather 
by  angels  to  make  shoes  for  the  poor.  Being  denounced  as  Chris- 
tians, they  were  cruelly  tortured,  and  then  beheaded  at  Soissons. 
The  Roman  tradition  fixes  their  death  in  A.  d.  300,  but  other  au- 
thorities give  the  date  thirteen  years  earlier.  Their  proper  attri- 
butes are  the  awl  and  shoemaker's  knife.    October  25. 

St.  Cunegunda.  March  3,  a.  d.  1040.  See  St.  Henry  of  Ba- 
varia. 

St.  Cunibert)  to  whom  one  of  the  most  ancient  churches  of  Co- 
logne is  dedicated,  was  bishop  of  that  city.  He  was  the  adviser  of 
King  Dagobert  and  some  of  his  successors,  and  an  intimate  friend  of 
Pepin  d'Heristal.  He  held  his  diocese  thirty-seven  years.  Accord- 
ing to  the  legend,  St.  Cunibert  was  directed  by  a  dove  to  the  spot 
where  St.  Ursula  and  her  companions  were  buried.  He  is  repre- 
sented in  the  episcopal  dress,  holding  in  his  hand  the  model  of  a 
church.    The  dove  is  his  attribute.    November  12,  A.  D.  660. 

St.  Cuthbert  of  Durham,  was  a  shepherd  in  his  youth,  in  the 
valley  of  the  Tweed.  In  his  childhood  an  angel  appeared  to  him 
and  urged  him  to  a  pious  life.  He  was  instructed  at  a  monastery 
near  his  home,  where  St.  Aidan  was  the  prior.  One  night  as  Cuth- 
bert tended  his  flocks,  he  saw  a  dazzling  light,  and  looking  up  be- 
held angels  bearing  St.  Aidan  to  heaven.  He  then  entered  the 
monastery  and  soon  became  a  noted  preacher.  He  not  only  made 
converts,  but  he  preached  much  to  such  Christians  as  lived  unworthy 
lives.  It  was  said  that  when  he  appealed  to  them  an  angelic  bright- 
ness shone  in  his  face,  and  none  could  deceive  him  or  conceal  the  sin 
of  their  hearts.  He  wandered  among  the  mountainous  regions,  and 
preached  in  villages  considered  almost  inaccessible.  He  dwelt  on 
an  island  on  the  coast  of  Northumberland,  called  afterwards  Holy 
Island,  in  memory  of  his  sanctity.  Here  he  supported  himself  upon 
what  he  raised  by  his  own  labor,  and  it  is  said  that  angels  brought 
him  bread  from  Paradise.  He  was  afterwards  Bishop  of  Landisfarne. 
Miraculous  things  are  told  of  him  during  his  life,  and  of  his  relics 
after  his  death.  His  shrine  became  a  place  of  pilgrimage.  His 
relics  are  now  in  the  Cathedral  of  Durham.  His  attribute  is  the  head 
of  St.  Oswald  which  was  buried  in  the  tomb  of  St.  Cuthbert,  when 
he  was  slain  in  battle.  He  also  has  the  otter,  which  was  said  to 
have  licked  him  into  life  when  almost  perished  from  cold  and  expo- 
sure. March  20,  a.  d.  687. 

St.  Cyprian,  and  St.  Justina  of  Antioch  {Ital.  San  Cipriano 
il  Mago  e  Santa  Giustina ;  Fr,  St.  Cyprien  le  Magicien  et  Sainte 
Justine.)    The  histories  of  these  saints  cannot  be  separated.  Saint 


84 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


Justina  was  an  exceedingly  lovely  and  virtuous  Christian  maiden  of 
Antioch.  Her  father  was  a  priest  of  the  idols,  but  she  converted 
both  him  and  her  mother  to  her  own  faith.  A  nobleman,  named 
Aglaides,  sought  her  love  in  vain,  and  at  length  he  applied  to  the  fa- 


( Belvedere,  Vienna.)   St.  Justina  and  Alphonso  I.  of  Ferrara*.    (II.  Moretto.) 

mous  magician,  Cyprian,  for  his  aid  in  winning  her  heart.  Now  Cy- 
prian was  very  learned  in  astrology  and  necromancy,  and  doubted 
not  his  power  to  overcome  all  obstacles.  But  when  he  saw  Justina, 
he  also  loved  her  and  determined  to  win  her  for  himself.    He  sent 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


85 


demons  to  her  to  fill  her  mind  with  unchaste  and  voluptuous  images, 
but  she  remained  unaffected.  At  length  he  sent  the  prince  of  evil 
spirits  to  tempt  her,  but  all  without  success.  Then  Cyprian  was  so 
astonished  at  the  power  of  her  virtue,  that  he  resolved  to  serve  the 
God  of  this  pure  maiden.  So  he  went  to  her  filled  with  repentance, 
and  confessed  himself  a  Christian.  Justina,  in  her  joy  at  so  great  a 
victory  for  Christ,  cut  off  her  beautiful  hair,  and  made  of  it  an  offering 
to  the  Virgin.  Cyprian  was  soon  baptized,  and  became  as  famous 
for  his  piety  as  he  had  before  been  for  his  wickedness.  When  the 
last  persecution  of  the  Christians  broke  out,  the  governor  of  Antioch 
commanded  these  saints  to  be  thrown  into  boiling  pitch,  which,  by 
a  miracle,  had  no  power  to  harm  them.  He  then  sent  them  to  Dio- 
cletian at  Mcomedia,  who  ordered  them  to  be  instantly  beheaded. 
September  26,  a.  d.  304. 

St.  Cyprian  of  Carthage,  and  archbishop  of  that  place,  perished 
in  the  persecution  of  Valerian.  His  martyrdom  is  one  of  the  most 
authentic  in  history.  He  is  very  rarely  represented  in  works  of  art, 
and  perhaps  the  picture  by  Paul  Veronese,  in  the  Brera  at  Milan,  is 
the  only  one  likely  to  come  within  the  observation  of  the  traveller. 
September  16,  a.  d.  258. 

St.  Cyril  {LaL  S.  Cyrillus  ;  Ital  San  Cirillo  ;  Fr.  S.  Cyrille). 
This  saint  was  patriarch  of  Alexandria  from  the  year  412  to  444. 
He  wrote  much  upon  theology,  and  was  earnestly  engaged  in  the 
contests  of  the  early  Church.  His  fame  as  patriarch  is  sullied  by  the 
terribly  cruel  murder  of  Hypatia,  the  female  mathematician  and 
philosopher.  She  was  put  to  death  in  his  church  by  his  followers, 
and  many  believed  it  to  have  been  done  with  his  connivance.  He  is 
more  highly  venerated  in  the  Greek  than  in  the  Latin  Church,  and 
is  the  only  bishop  whom  they  represent  with  his  head  covered. 
January  28,  A.  D.  444.  •» 

St.  Cyril  and  St.  Methodius.  St.  Cyril  was  a  philosopher,  and 
Methodius  an  artist.  They  were  of  the  Order  of  St.  Basil,  and  were 
sent  by  the  Patriarch  of  Constantinople  as  missionaries  to  the  peo- 
ple who  lived  on  the  borders  of  the  Danube.  Bogaris,  the  king  of 
Bulgaria,  desired  Methodius  to  paint  a  picture  in  the  hall  of  his 
palace  that  should  impress  his  subjects  with  awe.  Methodius 
painted  the  "  Last  Judgment,"  with  Christ  enthroned  and  surrounded 
with  angels  ;  also  the  happiness  of  the  blessed  and  the  miseries  of 
the  lost.  When  finished,  the  king  desired  an  explanation  of  this 
terrible  picture,  and  Cyril  gave  it  with  such  power  that  the  monarch, 
and  all  who  listened,  were  converted.  So  they  labored  among  the 
neighboring  nations  with  success.  Methodius  painted,  and  Cyril  so 
explained  his  pictures  as  to  convince  large  numbers  of  the  truth  of 
the  Christian  faith.  St.  Cyril  also  learned  their  languages,  made 
an  alphabet  for  them,  and  translated  a  part  of  the  gospels.    He  ob- 


86 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


taincd,  too,  the  privilege  of  celebrating  the  mass  in  the  Sclavonic 
tongue.  They  are  generally  represented  together ;  St.  Cyril  with 
a  book  and  St.  Methodius  with  a  tablet  on  which  is  a  picture.  The 
Greeks  honor  St.  Cyril  March  9,  and  St.  Methodius  May  11.  The 
Latins  both  March  9. 

Dale  Abbey,  Legend  of.  This  legend  is  represented  in  five 
pictures.  In  the  first,  the  abbot  shoots  the  deer  with  a  cross- 
bow, because  it  had  eaten  his  wheat.  In  the  second,  the  foresters 
complain  of  him,  and  the  king  commands  him  to  be  brought  before 
him.  In  the  third  and  fourth,  he  is  in  the  presence  of  the  king, 
who  grants  him  as  much  land  as  he  can  encircle  by  a  furrow  from 
sun  to  sun;  the  plough  to  be  drawn  by  two  wild  stags  from  the 
forest.    In  the  fifth  he  ploughs  with  the  stags. 

St.  Damian.    See  St.  Cosmo. 

St.  Daria.    See  St.  Chrysanthus. 

Dead  Nuns,  the  legend  of  There  were  two  noble  ladies  who 
joined  the  sisterhood  of  St.  Scholastica  who  were  fond  of  scandal 
and  vain  talk.  St.  Benedict  hearing  of  this,  reproved  them,  and 
sent  them  word  that  unless  they  reformed  he  would  excommunicate 
them.  For  a  while  they  remembered  it,  but  fell  again  into  the  habit, 
and  so  died.  They  were  buried  in  the  church  near  the  altar.  One 
day  as  Benedict  celebrated  mass,  when  the  deacon  said,  "  Let 
those  who  are  excommunicated,  and  forbidden  to  partake,  depart 
and  leave  us,"  these  nuns  arose  from  their  graves,  and  with  sad 
appearance  left  the  church.  This  occurred  each  time  the  mass  was 
celebrated  there,  until  St.  Benedict,  pitying  them,  absolved  them 
from  their  sins  and  they  rested  peacefully. 

St.  Delphine.    See  St.  Eleazar  de  Sabran. 

St.  Denis  of  France  (JLat.  Sanctus  Dionysius ;  ItaL  San  Dio- 
nisio  or  Dionigi ;  Fr.  Saint  Denis).  The  truth  of  the  legend 
which  makes  St.  Denis  the  same  with  Dionysius  the  Areopagite, 
will  not  be  confirmed  uj)on  a  critical  examination  of  facts,  but  as 
they  are  thus  represented  in  works  of  art,  it  is  necessary  to  be  given 
in  order  to  understand  the  representations  of  them.  Dionysius  was 
an  Athenian  philosopher.  He  was  a  judge  of  the  Areopagus,  and 
for  his  wisdom  in  heavenly  things  was  called  0eocro(^(;9,  Theosophus. 
He  went  to  Egypt  to  study  astrology,  and  was  at  Heliopolis  at  the 
time  of  the  crucifixion  of  Our  Lord.  He  was  greatly  troubled  at  the 
darkness  which  endured  for  three  hours,  because  he  could  not  un- 
derstand it.  He  was  converted  at  Athens  by  Paul,  and  became 
first  bishop  of  that  city.  In  his  letters  he  tells  of  going  to  Jeru- 
salem to  visit  the  Virgin  ;  of  his  astonishment  at  the  dazzling  light 
which  surrounded  her,  and  of  being  present  at  her  death  and  burial. 
He  went  to  Rome  and  attended  Paul  at  his  martyrdom.  He  was 
then  sent  by  Pope  Clement  to  preach  in  France  with  two  deacons, 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


87 


Rusticus  and  Eleutherius.  After  his  arrival  in  France  he  was  called 
Denis.  He  found  Paris  a  beautiful  city,  seeming  to  him  like  another 
Athens.  He  dwelt  here,  and  by  his  preaching  converted  many.  He 
sent  missionaries  to  all  parts  of  France  and  to  Germany.  At  length 
he  was  accused  of  his  faith  to  the  Roman  Emperor,  who  sent  Fes- 
cennius  to  Paris  to  seize  him,  with  his  companions.  They  were 
condemned  to  death.  At  the  place  of  execution  St.  Denis  knelt 
down  and  prayed,  and  the  deacons  responded  in  a  loud  Amen. 
Their  bodies  were  left  as  usual,  to  be  devoured  by  wild  beasts. 
But  St.  Denis  arose,  and  taking  his  head  in  his  hands,  walked  two 
miles,  to  the  place  now  called  Mont  Martre,  the  angels  singing  as 
he  went.  This  miracle  converted  many,  and  among  them  Lactia, 
wife  of  Lubrius,  who  was  afterwards  beheaded  also.  The  bodies  of 
St.  Denis  and  his  deacons  were  buried,  and  a  church  erected  over 
them  by  St.  Genevieve,  but  in  the  reign  of  Dagobert  they  were 
removed  to  the  Abbey  of  St.  Denis.  He  is  the  patron  saint  of 
France,  and  his  name  the  war-cry  of  its  armies.  The  oriflamme,  the 
standard  of  France,  was  consecrated  on  his  tomb.  When  Stephen 
n.  became  pope,  the  name  of  this  saint  began  to  be  venerated  in 
all  Europe.  Stephen  had  been  educated  at  the  monastery  of  St. 
Denis.  There  is  a  beautiful  life  of  the  saint  in  the  royal  library  of 
Paris,  with  a  large  number  of  exquisite  miniatures.  His  attribute 
is  the  severed  head.    October  9. 

St.  Digna.  See  St.  Afra  of  Augsburg,  whose  handmaiden  she 
was. 

St.  Diego  d'Alcala  was  an  humble  Capuchin  brother  in  a 
convent  of  Alcala,  who  never  dreamed  of  being  a  saint.  It  was 
said  that  the  infant  Don  Carlos  was  healed  through  his  intercession, 
when  severely  wounded.  Philip  H.  obtained  his  canonization  on 
this  account.  About  1600,  a  wealthy  Spaniard  residing  at  Rome 
dedicated  a  chapel  to  this  saint  in  the  Church  of  San  Giacomo  degli 
Spagnuoli,  which  was  painted  by  Annibal  Caracci,  and  Albano  who 
was  then  his  pupil.  These  frescoes  were  transferred  to  canvas. 
There  are  also  pictures  of  him  by  Murillo. 

St.  Dominick  (Lat.  Sanctus  Dominicus,  Pater  Ordinis  Prse- 
dicatorum ;  Ital.  San  Domenico^  San  Domenico  Calaroga ;  Fr.  Saint 
Dominique,  Fondateur  des  Freres  Precheurs ;  Sp.  San  Domingo). 
This  saint  was  a  Castilian  of  noble  descent.  His  mother  dreamed 
before  liis  birth,  that  she  had  brought  forth  a  dog  with  a  torch  in 
his  mouth.  At  his  baptism  a  star  descended  from  heaven  to  crown 
his  brow.  He  studied  at  Valencia,  and  joined  the  Order  of  St.  Au- 
gustine at  an  early  age ;  indeed,  he  performed  penance  from  the  age 
of  six  years.  When  thirty  years  old  he  went  to  France,  and  being 
shocked  at  the  heresies  of  the  Albigenses,  he  preached  with 
such  effect  as  to  convert  many.  He  went  the  second  time  to  France 
with  his  bishop  to  conduct  to  Castile  the  young  princess  who  was  to 


88  LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 

espouse  Prince  Ferdinand.  Her  death,  just  as  he  arrived,  was  a 
great  shock  to  him,  and  from  that  time  his  zeal  and  rehgious  devo- 
tion were  very  great.    He  obtained  permission  of  the  Pope  in  1207 

to  preach  to  the  Albigenses 
in  the  Vaudois.  He  wrote 
out  articles  of  faith,  and  it 
is  said,  that  when  this  book 
was  thrown  in  the  fire  it 
would  not  remain,  but 
leaped  out,  uninjured.  As 
the  heretical  books  were 
burned,  this  miracle  had 
the  effect  to  convince  and 
convert  many.  It  cannot  be 
known  what  part  he  took  in 
the  persecution  of  the  Albi- 
genses, but  it  is  certain  that 
he  was  extremely  earnest  in 
his  prayers  and  endeavors 
to  secure  the  triumph  of 
the  Church.  He  united 
with  several  priests,  who 
went  about  to  preach  bare- 
footed. From  this  arose  his 
Order,  which  was  confirmed 
in  1216.  St.  Dominick, 
though  not  the  inventor  of 
the  Rosary,  instituted  its  use,  made  an  arrangement  of  the  chaplet, 
and  dedicated  it  to  the  Virgin.  A  rosary  should  have  fifteen  large, 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty  small  beads.  The  large  represent  the  Pater- 
nosters, and  the  small  the  Ave-Marias.  This  use  of  the  rosary  was  a 
great  assistance  to  St.  Dominick  in  his  labors.  In  1218  St.  Dominick 
was  commissioned  by  the  Pope  to  reform  the  nunneries  at  Rome.  From 
this  originated  the  Order  of  the  Dominican  Nuns,  for  he  made  a  new 
Rule  which  they  adopted.  He  founded  many  convents  in  the  principal 
cities  of  Europe,  none  of  which  are  more  famous  than  the  splendid  one 
of  his  Order  in  the  Rue  St.  Jacques  at  Paris.  It  is  from  the  situation 
of  this  convent  that  the  Dominicans  were  called  Jacobins  in  France. 
At  length  he  returned  to  his  convent  at  Bologna,  where  he  died  of 
a  fever,  brought  on  by  his  arduous  labors.  Two  years  after  his 
death  he  was  canonized,  and  his  remains  placed  in  the  magnificent 
"  Area  di  San  Domenico"  at  Bologna.  It  is  said  his  true  portrait 
was  brought  from  heaven  by  St.  Catherine  and  Mary  Magdalen  to 
a  convent  of  Dominican  nuns.  His  attributes  are,  the  dog  by  his 
side  ;  the  star,  on  or  above  his  head  ;  a  lily  in  one  hand  and  a  book 
in  the  other.    There  are  many  interesting  legends  of  his  wonderful 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


89 


miracles.  At  one  time,  it  is  said,  he  restored  to  life  the  young  Lord 
Napoleon,  nephew  of  Cardinal  Stephano  di  Fossa-Nova,  when  he 
had  been  killed  by  a  fall  from  his  horse.  When,  at  the  convent  of 
St.  Sabina,  they  had  not  sufficient  food,  St.  Dominick  pronounced 
the  blessing  upon  the  little  they  had,  and  immediately  two  angels 
appeared  with  bread  and  wine  which  was  celestial  food,  and  sweeter 
than  any  of  earth.  St.  Dominick  had  a  vision,  in  which  he  saw  the 
Saviour  with  the  arrows  of  divine  wrath  in  his  hand.  The  Virgin 
asked  him  what  he  would  do,  and  when  he  replied  that  he  would 
destroy  the  earth  on  account  of  its  wickedness,  she  besought  him  to 
wait,  and  presented  to  him  St.  Francis  and  St.  Dominick,  saying, 
that  they  would  traverse  the  whole  earth  and  subdue  it  to  Christ. 
August  4,  A.  D.  1221. 

St.  Donato  of  Arezzo  (Lat.  St.  Donatus;  Fr,  Saint  Donat). 
This  saint  was  of  noble  birth,  and  in  childhood  a  companion  of  the 
Emperor  Julian.  After  the  apostasy  of  Julian,  he  put  many  Chris- 
tians to  death,  and  among  them  the  father  of  Donatus.  Donatus  then 
fled  from  Rome  to  Arezzo,  and  had  for  his  companion  the  holy  monk, 
Hilarion.  They  preached,  and  performed  many  miracles.  At  one 
time  a  tax-gatherer  of  the  province  went  on  a  journey  and  left  the 
money  which  he  had  with  his  wife  Euphrosina.  She  died  suddenly 
and  told  no  one  where  she  had  hidden  the  treasure.  When  her 
husband  returned  he  was  in  great  distress,  and  fearing  to  be  pun- 
ished as  a  defaulter,  he  appealed  to  Donatus,  who  went  to  the  tomb 
and  called  upon  Euphrosina  to  tell  him  where  the  money  was.  She 
answered  him,  and  this  was  heard  by  many.  He  was  made  bishop 
of  Arezzo,  and  as  he  celebrated  the  Holy  Mass,  the  cup  which  held 
the  wine,  and  was  of  glass,  was  broken  by  some  idolaters.  When 
Donatus  prayed,  it  was  made  whole,  and  not  a  drop  of  wine  spilled. 
This  miracle  was  the  cause  of  the  conversion  of  so  many,  that  the 
pagans,  in  their  rage,  tortured  and  beheaded  him.  Hilarion  was 
scourged  to  death,  and  both  are  interred  beneath  the  high  altar  of 
the  Cathedral  of  Arezzo.    August  7. 

St.  Dorothea  of  Cappadocia,  Virgin  and  Martyr  {Ital  Santa 
Dorotea ;  Fr.  Sainte  Dorothee).  She  was  a  noble  virgin,  and  the 
most  beautiful  of  the  city  of  Csesarea.  She  was  a  Christian,  and 
devoted  to  prayer,  fasting,  and  almsgiving.  Sapritius  or  Fabricius, 
the  governor,  hearing  of  her  beauty,  sent  for  her,  and  threatened 
her  with  death  if  she  would  not  worship  the  idols.  She  depicted 
to  him  the  joys  of  heaven,  and  declared  that  she  preferred  the 
death  which  would  give  her  these  to  a  life  of  idolatry.  She  was 
taken  to  prison,  and  two  sisters,  Calista  and  Christeta,  who  had 
renounced  Christianity  through  fear  of  torture,  were  sent  to  induce 
Dorothea  to  follow  their  example.  But  she  so  influenced  them  that 
they  left  her,  declaring  themselves  again  Christians.  Then  Fabri- 
cius commanded  the  sisters  to  be  burned,  and  Dorothea  to  witness 


90 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


their  sufferinojs. 


She  encouraged  them  through  all,  and  was  then 
condemned  to  be  tortured  and 
beheaded.  She  endured  the 
tortures  with  great  bravery.  As 
she  was  led  to  execution,  a 
young  lawyer,  called  Theophilus, 
jeered  her  and  asked  her  to  send 
him  fruits  from  the  gardens  to 
which  she  was  going.  She  told 
him  that  his  request  should  be 
granted.  When  at  the  place  of 
execution,  she  knelt  and  prayed, 
and  suddenly  there  was  beside 
her  a  beautiful  angel  with  a 
basket,  in  which  were  three 
roses  and  three  apples.  She 
commanded  him  to  take  them 
to  Theophilus  and  tell  him  she 
had  sent  them,  and  should  await 
him  in  the  gardens  from  which 
they  came.  Then  she  was  be- 
headed. When  Theophilus  re- 
ceived the  fruit  and  tasted  of 
it,  he  too  became  a  Christian, 
and  at  last  suffered  martyrdom. 
Her  attributes  are  roses  in 
the  hand  or  on  the  head,  or  a 
basket  with  three  apples  and 
three  roses  held  by  an  attend- 
vL'^    V        ^  ant  angel.    February  6,  a.  d. 

(German.)   St.  Dorothea.  303. 

St.  Dunstan  was  born  in  925.  He  became  a  monk  at  Glaston- 
bury. He  was  a  fine  scholar,  a  remarkable  musician,  a  painter,  and 
a  worker  of  metals.  He  went  to  court  when  quite  young,  and  was  a 
great  favorite  of  King  Edmund,  who  admired  his  musical  talents. 
He  had  such  an  influence  over  the  king  that  he  was  accused  of  sor- 
cery and  driven  from  the  court.  One  day  as  the  king  was  hunting 
the  stag,  his  dogs  leaped  down  a  fearful  precipice.  The  king 
feared  that  he  could  not  rein  his  horse  and  must  follow  to  death. 
He  prayed,  and  thought  of  his  cruelty  to  Dunstan.  The  horse 
stopped  on  the  bank.  The  king  soon  sent  for  Dunstan  to  return  to 
him.  It  is  related  that  as  he  labored  one  night  at  his  forge,  the 
Devil  came  to  tempt  him  in  the  form  of  a  beautiful  woman.  Dun- 
stan seized  the  Devil  by  the  nose  with  his  red-hot  tongs.  One  day 
his  harp  hanging  on  the  wall  played  to  him  the  hymn,  "  Gaudete 
animi."    Dunstan  was  made  the  king's  treasurer  and  Abbot  of  Glas- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


91 


tonbury,  but  when  Edwin  came  to  the  throne  and  lived  a  shameless 
life  with  Elgiya,  he  drove  Dunstan  again  from  court.  When  Edgar 
was  king,  he  was  again  honored.  He  was  made  Bishop  of  Worces- 
ter, and  then  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  In  960  he  went  to  Rome, 
and  received  great  honors  as  Primate  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  nation. 


(Bod.  Lib.  Oxford.)   A  pen-drawing  of  St.  Dunstan  at  the  feet  of  Christ.    Drawn  by 

himself. 

On  his  return  he  founded  numerous  schools  and  monasteries.  He 
relates  in  his  writings  a  vision,  in  which  he  beheld  his  mother  es- 
poused to  Christ  while  angels  sung  around  them.  One  of  the  an- 
gels asked  Dunstan  why  he  did  not  sing,  and  when  he  replied  that 
he  was  ignorant  and  could  not  sing,  the  angel  taught  him  the  hymn, 
and  the  next  day  he  could  sing  the  same  to  his  monks.  May  19, 
A.  D.  988. 


92 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


Duns  Scotus  was  a  Franciscan,  and  a  rival  in  theological  contro 
versy  of  St.  Thomas  Aquinas.  Their  opinions  gave  rise  to  the 
parties  called  Thomists  and  Scotists.  He  was  one  of  the  most  stub- 
born defenders  of  the  doctrine  of  the  Immaculate  Conception.  He 
was  an  Englishman,  and  went  to  Paris  about  1304,  where  he  wrote 
his  commentaries.  He  was  sent  to  Cologne  in  1308,  where  he  was 
received  with  great  honor;  and  there  he  died  in  the  same  year. 
There  was  a  fable  of  his  having  been  buried  alive,  which  is  dis- 
puted by  good  authorities. 

St.  Ebba  of  Coldingham.  This  saint  was  abbess  of  the  lar- 
gest monastery  which  existed  in  her  time,  and  had  monks  as  well 
as  nuns  under  her  rule.  About  the  year  870,  there  was  an  incur- 
sion of  Danish  pirates,  and  St.  Ebba  was  alarmed  for  her  chastity 
and  that  of  her  nuns ;  she  assembled  them  in  the  chapter-house  and 
made  an  appeal  to  them  ;  she  then  took  a  razor  and  cut  off  her  nose 
and  upper  lip.  Her  example  was  followed  by  the  whole  community, 
and  when  the  pirates  came,  the  frightful  spectacle  they  presented 
protected  their  virginity.  The  pirates  in  their  disappointment  set 
fire  to  the  monastery  and  the  nuns  perished  in  the  flames.    April  2. 

St.  Edith  of  Wilton,  daughter  of  King  Edgar.  Her  mother 
was  a  beautiful  nun,  Wilfrida,  Avhom  the  king  took  from  her  convent 
by  force.  As  soon  as  she  could  escape  from  him  she  returned,  and 
Edith  was  born  in  the  nunnery.  She  refused  to  go  to  court,  and 
was  celebrated  for  her  sanctity,  learning,  and  beauty.  She  spent 
the  fortune  her  father  gave  her  in  founding  a  nunnery  at  Wihon, 
which  has  since  been  the  seat  of  the  earls  of  Pembroke.  Edith  was 
remarkable  for  the  costliness  and  elegance  of  her  attire,  and  when 
she  was  rebuked  for  it  by  St.  Ethelwold  she  insisted  that  this  was 
of  no  importance,  for  God  regarded  the  heart  alone,  and  that  He 
could  read  beneath  any  garment.  "  For,"  answered  she,  "  pride 
may  exist  under  the  garb  of  wretchedness ;  and  a  mind  may  be  as 
pure  under  these  vestments,  as  under  your  tattered  furs."  She  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  She  lived  to  see  the  consecration  of 
the  church  she  had  built  in  honor  of  St.  Denis,  but  died  forty-three 
days  after.  St.  Dunstan  was  warned  of  her  approaching  end, 
while  celebrating  mass  on  the  occasion  of  the  consecration.  Septem- 
ber 16,  A.  D.  984. 

Edith  of  Polesworth.    See  St.  Modwena. 

St.  Edmund.  King  and  Martyr.  The  ecclesiastical  legend  of 
King  Edmund  is  this  :  Ragnar  Lodbrog  was  a  Dane  of  royal  blood. 
He  went  out  fowling  in  a  small  skiff,  and  a  storm  coming  on  he  was 
driven  upon  the  English  coast  in  Norfolk.  He  was  taken  to  King 
Edmund,  who  much  admired  the  strength  of  the  Dane,  and  his  skill 
as  a  huntsman,  while  Lodbrog  was  dazzled  by  the  accomplishments 
of  the  young  king,  and  the  splendor  of  his  court.  The  huntsman  of 
Edmund  became  jealous  of  the  Dane,  and  killed  him.    A  dog  which 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


93 


Lodbrog  had  reared  watched  over  his  body  until  it  was  discovered. 
The  huntsman  confessed  his  crime,  and  as  a  punishment  was  put 
adrift  in  the  same  boat  which  had  brought  Lodbrog  to  England. 
He  was  carried  to  the  home  of  the  Dane,  where  his  two  sons,  seeing 
the  boat  of  their  father,  and  supposing  him  to  be  murdered,  were 
about  to  kill  the  huntsman.  But  he  told  them  that  Edmund  had 
done  the  deed.  Then  they  swore  vengeance,  and  collecting  a  great 
fleet,  went  to  invade  England.  They  landed  in  Northumbria,  and 
destroyed  everything  within  their  reach  as  they  advanced  to  the  ter- 
ritory of  Edmund.  They  demanded  of  him  one  half  his  kingdom. 
He  took  counsel  with  Bishop  Humbert  and  determined  never  to  sub- 
mit to  a  heathen  power.  He  then  prepared  for  battle  and  met  the 
Danes  near  Thetford,  where  they  fought.  King  Edmund  was  sur- 
rounded by  his  enemies,  and  with  Humbert,  took  refuge  in  the 
church.  They  were  dragged  out,  and  the  king  was  bound  to  a  tree 
and  scourged ;  his  body  was  then  filled  with  arrows  from  the  Da- 
nish bows,  and  finally  he  was  beheaded.  Humbert  also  was  mar- 
tyred. At  length  when  the  Christians  who  had  hidden  came  forth, 
they  found  a  large,  gray  wolf  watching  the  head  of  the  king.  This 
they  buried  in  a  spot  where  was  afterwards  built  a  church  and 
monastery,  and  then  a  town,  which  was  called  in  memory  of  the 
king,  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  which  name  it  still  retains.  November  20, 
A.  D.  870. 

St.  Edward  the  Martyr  was  the  son  of  King  Edgar.  One 
day  when  he  was  hunting  he  went  to  Corfe  Castle,  where  his  step- 
mother, Elfrida,  was  living  with  his  brother  Ethelred.  His  mother 
received  him  kindly,  but  commanded  one  of  the  servants  to  stab 
him  in  the  back  as  he  was  drinking.  He,  finding  himself  wounded, 
rode  away,  and  died  in  the  forest.  Elfrida  and  her  son  gave  him  a 
shameful  burial,  and  instituted  rejoicings  at  his  death.  But  God 
shed  a  celestial  light  on  his  grave,  and  those  who  came  to  it  were 
healed  of  all  infirmities.  Multitudes  made  pilgrimages  to  his  grave, 
and  when  St.  Dunstan  reproved  Elfi:-ida  as  a  murderess,  she  was 
struck  with  remorse,  and  desired  herself  to  go  there.  But  when 
she  mounted  her  horse  for  the  journey,  he  would  not  move,  and  no 
power  could  make  him,  so  Elfrida,  perceiving  the  will  of  God  in 
this,  walked  barefooted  to  the  place.  His  remains  were  removed, 
with  great  honors,  to  the  nunnery  at  Shaftesbury,  which  Alfred  the 
Great  had  endowed.    March  18,  A.  d.  978. 

St.  Edward,  King  and  Confessor.  This  saint  was  son  of 
King  Ethelred,  who  had  before  his  birth  two  other  sons.  But  when 
it  was  near  the  time  for  this  third  one  to  be  born,  Ethelred  called 
upon  his  council  to  decide  who  should  succeed  to  the  throne.  St. 
Dunstan  was  present,  and  he  prophesied  the  early  death  of  those 
already  born,  so  the  council  decided  in  favor  of  the  expected  prince, 
who  was  afterwards  the  saint  of  whom  we  speak.    All  the  nobles 


94 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


took  the  oath  of  fealty  to  him,  dans  le  sein  de  sa  mere.  The 
coronation  of  Edward  was  on  Easter  day,  1043.  He  freed  his  sub- 
jects from  the  tax  called  Danegelt,  because  when  a  large  sum  of 
this  tribute  was  brought  to  the  palace,  and  the  king  was  called  to 
look  at  it,  he  beheld  a  rejoicing  demon  dancing  upon  the  money. 
This  saint  had  many  visions  during  his  life,  and  also  possessed 
miraculous  powers  of  healing.  His  history  is  told  in  bas-reliefs  in 
his  chapel  in  Westminster  Abbey.    January  5,  A.  d.  1066. 

St.  Eleazar  de  Sabran  was  a  Franciscan.  His  mother  was  a 
woman  of  remarkable  character  and  great  piety.  He  was  early 
married  to  Delphine,  heiress  of  Glendenes.  She  was  as  pious  as 
her  husband,  and  they  were  both  enrolled  in  the  Third  Order  of 
St.  Francis.  As  Count  of  Sabran,  he  administered  his  affairs  with 
great  ability  and  justice.  He  died  at  twenty-eight.  St.  Delphine 
then  resided  for  some  time  with  Sancha,  queen  of  Naples,  but  at  last 
withdrew  to  perfect  seclusion.  St.  Eleazar  is  represented  in  art 
holding  a  package  of  papers  to  commemorate  a  noble  act  of  his 
life.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  he  found  papers  which  had  beeli 
written  to  induce  his  father  to  disinherit  him,  and  which  attributed 
to  him  all  manner  of  evil.  Instead  of  taking  revenge  on  the  writer 
of  these  calumnies,  he  sent  for  him,  and  burned  the  letters  in  his 
presence.    He  thus  converted  his  bitter  enemy  to  a  devoted  friend. 

St.  Elisabeth,  mother  of  John  the  Baptist.  {LaL  Sancta  Elisa- 
betha ;  ItaL  Santa  Elisabeta ;  Sp.  Santa  Isabel ;  Ger.  Die  Heilige 
Elizabeth.)  The  Hebrew  signification  of  this  name  is  Worshipper  of 
God,  or  Consecrated  to  God.  The  Gospel  describes  Elisabeth  as 
walking  in  all  the  commandments  of  the  Lord  blameless.  A  woman 
"  well  stricken  in  years,"  when  she  was  "  exalted  to  a  miraculous 
motherhood,"  and  chosen  for  high  honors  by  God.  She  should  not, 
however,  be  represented  as  decrepit  and  wrinkled,  but  as  elderly, 
dignified,  and  gracious.  She  appears  as  an  important  personage  in 
art,  and  yet  in  most  cases  as  the  accompaniment  to  those  of  still 
greater  importance.  She  is  first  seen  in  pictures  of  the  Visitation 
or  Salutation,  when  with  prophetic  utterance  she  exclaims,  "  Whence 
is  this  to  me,  that  the  mother  of  my  Lord  should  come  to  me  ?  " 
Then  the  representations  of  the  birth  of  John  the  Baptist,  and  in 
various  scenes  from  his  life ;  one  of  which  illustrates  the  legend  that 
as  Elisabeth  fled  from  the  massacre  at  Bethlehem,  a  huge  rock 
opened,  and  received  her  and  St.  John,  whom  she  bore  in  her  arms, 
into  its  bosom,  where  they  were  concealed  until  the  danger  was 
past.  Again,  St.  John  is  taking  leave  of  his  parents  to  go  away  to 
his  wilderness  life.  But  the  Holy  Families  in  which  St.  Elisabeth 
appears  are  far  more  numerous  than  any  other  representations  of 
her.  And  none  could  be  more  pleasing  than  these.  Elisabeth  is 
frequently  presenting  her  child  to  the  Saviour,  and  teaching  him  to 
kneel  and  fold  his  hands  as  if  in  worship.    The  matronly  age,  the 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


95 


dark  complexion,  and  coifed  head  of  Elisabeth  are  in  beautiful  con- 
trast with  the  virgin  bloom,  the  abundant  hair,  and  youthful  grace 
of  the  Madonna. 

St.  Elizabeth  of  Hungary  (Lat.  Sancta  Elizabetha,  Mater 
Pauperum ;  ItaL  Santa  Elisabeta  di  Ungheria ;  Fr.  Madame  Saincte 
Elisabeth;  Sp.  Santa  Isabel;  Ger.  Die  Heilige  Elizabeth  von 
Ungarn,  or,  von  Hessen ;  Die  liebe  Frau  Elizabeth) .  This  legend 
is  almost  entirely  historical,  with  just  enough  of  the  marvelous  to 
entitle  it  to  a  place  in  "  legendary  lore."  She  was  the  daughter  of 
the  King  of  Hungary,  and  was  born  in  1207.  The  year  of  her  birth 
was  full  of  blessings  to  her  country,  and  from  her  earliest  days  she 
was  regarded  as  an  especial  favorite  of  God  and  one  who  should 
bring  good  to  her  people.  The  first  words  she  uttered  were  those 
of  prayer,  and  at  three  years  old  she  showed  her  charity  by  giving 
her  toys  and  garments  to  those  less  fortunate  than  herself.  When 
Herman  of  Thuringia  heard  of  these  things  he  desired  this  princess 
as  a  wife,  for  his  son.  Prince  Louis,  and  sent  an  embassy  to  solicit 
her  of  her  father.  His  ambassadors  were  of  great  rank,  and  with 
them  went  the  noble  Bertha  of  Beindeleben,  with  a  train  of  knights 
and  ladies,  and  many  rich  presents.  Their  request  was  granted, 
and  the  little  Elizabeth,  only  four  years  old,  was  given  to  them. 
Her  father  gave  her  a  silver  cradle  and  bath ;  a  rich  wardrobe  and 
a  train  of  twelve  maidens.  He  also  sent  to  Herman,  and  his  wife 
Sophia,  many  splendid  and  precious  things  which  he  had  obtained 
from  Constantinople.  The  princess  was  received  at  the  Castle  of 
Wartburg,  at  Eisenach,  with  great  and  imposing  ceremony.  The 
next  day  she  was  betrothed  to  Louis,  and  being  laid  in  the  same 
cradle,  they  smiled  and  played  in  such  a  manner,  as  that  it  was 
considered  an  omen  of  a  happy  marriage.  From  this  time  they 
were  never  separated,  and  grew  together  in  perfect  love.  Elizabeth 
was  soon  seen  to  be  very  different  from  all  other  children ;  her  mind 
was  devoted  to  heavenly  things,  and  charity  was  her  chief  charac- 
teristic. As  long  as  Herman  lived,  Elizabeth  was  happy,  and  he 
was  her  true  friend  and  father ;  but  after  his  death,  which  happened 
when  she  was  nine  years  old,  the  mother  and  sister  of  Prince  Louis 
did  all  they  could  to  prevent  the  marriage,  because  they  did  not  like 
her  devotion  and  piety.  But  although  she  suffered  many  insults, 
she  never  resented  them,  and  Louis  remained  true  to  her  in  spite  of 
all.  Sometimes  he  feared  she  was  too  pure  and  holy  to  be  any 
other  than  the  bride  of  Heaven,  but  at  length  when  he  was  twenty 
the  marriage  took  place.  They  lived  a  life  of  most  perfect  love,  but 
she  continued  all  her  religious  penances.  Louis  sometimes  remon- 
strated, but  he  secretly  felt  that  he  and  his  people  should  receive,  in 
some  way,  great  blessings  from  the  sanctity  of  his  wife.  Her  con- 
fessor had  told  her  that  the  imposts  for  the  support  of  the  royal 
table  were  unjust,  and  from  that  time,  while  others  feasted  she  ate 


96 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


bread  and  drank  only  water ;  but  one  day  Louis  took  the  cup  from 
her  hand  and  tasted,  and  he  thought  he  drank  wine  more  delicious 
than  he  had  ever  had  before.  He  questioned  the  cup-bearer,  who 
declared  he  had  given  Elizabeth  only  water.  Louis  said  nothing,  for 
he  believed  that  angels  attended  her.  At  another  time  when  Louis 
entertained  a  company  of  princes,  he  desired  Elizabeth  to  dress 
magnificently.  When  she  was  attired  and  about  to  enter  the  apart- 
ment of  Louis,  a  wretched  beggar  sought  her  charity.  She  told  him 
she  could  not  attend  to  him  then,  but  he  entreated  her  in  the  name 
of  John  the  Baptist.  Now  this  was  her  patron  saint,  and  she  could 
not  refuse  what  was  asked  in  his  name,  so  she  tore  off  her  costly 
mantle  and  gave  the  beggar,  and  sought  her  chamber  fearing  what 
her  husband  might  say.  Just  then  Louis  came  to  seek  her,  and  as 
he  hesitated  whether  to  blame  or  praise  her,  a  servant  brought  the 
mantle,  saying  she  had  found  it  hanging  in  its  place.  Then  Louis 
led  her  forth  to  his  guests  with  his  heart  full  of  love  and  wonder. 
And  a  bright  light  was  about  her  and  the  jewels  on  her  mantle 
glowed  with  celestial  brilliancy.  Tradition  teaches  that  the  beggar 
was  none  other  than  our  blessed  Lord.  Another  time  when  visiting 
the  poor  of  Eisenach,  she  found  a  leprous  child  whom  none  would 
care  for.  She  carried  him  in  her  arms  and  laid  him  in  her  own  bed. 
This  enraged  the  mother  of  Louis,  and  when  he  returned  she  told 
him  what  sort  of  person  was  in  his  bed  in  his  absence.  Almost  out 
of  patience,  he  went  to  see,  and  behold !  when  he  looked  he  found 
a  sweet  infant,  and  as  they  gazed  it  vanished  away  from  their  sight. 
This  too,  was  believed  to  have  been  Jesus.  When  Louis  was  absent 
she  spent  all  her  time  in  visiting  the  poor,  and  as  she  one  day  de- 
scended to  Eisenach  carrying  food  in  her  robe,  she  met  her  husband. 
The  path  was  icy,  and  she  bent  with  the  weight  of  her  burden.  When 
Louis  demanded  what  she  did,  she  did  not  like  to  show  him,  and 
pressed  her  robe  more  firmly  together.  He  insisted  and  opened  her 
mantle,  when  he  saw  only  red  and  white  roses,  more  lovely  than  the 
earthly  roses  of  summer ;  and  this  was  in  winter.  Then  he  was 
about  to  embrace  her,  but  such  a  glory  seemed  to  surround  her,  that 
he  dared  not  touch  her,  but  put  one  of  the  roses  in  his  bosom  and 
went  on,  thinking  of  all  these  wonders.  In  1226,  Louis  went  to 
Italy  with  the  Emperor  Frederick  II.  A  great  famine  afflicted  all 
Germany,  but  especially  Thuringia.  Elizabeth  was  untiring  in  her 
charities  and  labors.  The  famine  was  followed  as  usual  by  a  plague, 
and  again  she  labored,  with  her  own  hands  tending  the  sick.  She 
founded  several  hospitals,  and  went  constantly  from  one  to  the  other. 
She  exhausted  the  public  treasury,  and  gave  away  her  own  robes 
and  jewels.  When  Louis  returned,  his  counselors  made  great  com- 
plaints of  Elizabeth,  but  he,  only  thankful  that  she  was  still  spared 
to  him,  said,  "  Let  her  do  as  she  will."  But  she  kissing  him  many 
times,  said,  "  See !  I  have  given  to  the  Lord  what  is  his,  and  he  has 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


97 


preserved  to  us  what  is  thine  and  mine  !  "  The  next  year  Louis 
went  to  the  Crusades.  The  grief  of  the  hearts  of  this  husband  and 
wife  at  parting  was  such  that  Elizabeth  was  carried  home  more  dead 
than  alive,  for  she  had  gone  two  days  on  his  journey  with  him, 
before  she  could  find  strength  to  leave  him.  It  was  their  final  part- 
ing, for  Louis  died  in  Calabria  in  the  arms  of  the  Patriarch  of 
Jerusalem.  He  commanded  his  retainers  to  carry  his  body  to  his 
wife,  and  to  defend  her  and  his  children,  even  with  their  lives,  from 
all  wrong.  Her  grief  was  so  great  that  God  alone  could  sustain 
her  by  miraculous  comfort.  The  brother  of  Louis,  Henry,  now 
drove  her  forth  with  her  children,  and  took  possession  of  the  Wart- 
burg.  It  was  winter  time ;  she  carried  her  newly  born  baby  in  her 
arms,  and  was  followed  by  her  three  other  children  and  her  women. 
It  is  said  that  she  fell,  and  that  one  whom  she  had  cared  for  in  the 
hospital  mocked  at  her.  She  found  a  shelter  for  her  children,  and 
supported  herself  by  spinning  wool.  But  when  the  knights  returned 
with  the  body  of  Louis,  they  obliged  Henry  to  accept  the  ofiice  of 
regent  until  her  son,  Herman,  could  reign ;  and  Elizabeth  received 
as  her  dower  the  city  of  Marbourg.  And  now  she  gave  herself  up 
to  the  direction  of  her  rigid  and  bigoted  confessor,  Conrad.  She 
lived  a  life  of  penitential  humiliation,  and  even  separated  herself 
from  her  children  lest  she  should  love  them  too  well.  She  drank 
the  very  dregs  of  the  cup  of  penance,  and  clothed  in  rags  and 
mocked  by  the  children  in  the  streets  as  a  mad  woman,  she  spun 
wool  until  she  had  no  strength  remaining.  It  is  said  that  she  was 
comforted  by  celestial  beings,  and  that  even  the  Blessed  Virgin 
talked  with  her.  When  dying  she  sang  sweet  hymns,  and  at  last 
she  said,  "  Silence,"  and  died.  Tradition  says  that  angels  bore  her 
spirit  to  heaven,  and  as  they  ascended  were  heard  to  chant,  Beg- 
num  mundi  contempsi."  She  was  twenty-four  years  old,  and  Louis 
had  been  dead  three  years  and  a  half.  She  was  canonized  four 
years  after  her  death.  Her  shrine  in  the  church  at  Marbourg,  which 
bears  her  name,  was  visited  by  pilgrims,  and  its  stone  steps  worn 
away  by  their  knees.  In  the  Beformation  this  shrine  was  desecrated, 
and  her  remains  scattered,  no  one  knows  where.  The  shrine  is  still 
preserved  as  a  curiosity  in  the  sacristy  of  the  church.  The  castle 
of  Wartburg  is  in  ruins.  But  here  since  the  days  of  Elizabeth, 
Luther  found  a  refuge,  and  labored  on  his  translation  of  the  Bible, 
and  he  himself  relates  that  here  he  contended  bodily  with  demons, 
and  the  stain  is  shown  on  the  wall  which  was  made  by  his  inkstand 
when  he  threw  it  at  the  head  of  Satan.  There  are  many  pictures 
of  this  lovely  saint,  but  the  most  celebrated  was  painted  by  Murillo 
for  the  church  of  the  Caritad,  at  Seville.  November  19,  A.  D. 
123L 

St.  Elizabeth  of  Portugal  {Sp.  Sant'  Isabel  de  Paz). 
This  Elizabeth  was  the  daughter  of  the  King  of  Aragon,  and 


98 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


grand-niece  of  Elizabeth  of  Hungary.  She  was  married  to  Diony* 
sius,  Bang  of  Portugal.  He  was  most  faithless  and  cruel  as  a  hus- 
band, but  a  good  king  to  his  subjects.  After  forty  years  of  great  do- 
mestic trials  she  was  left  a  widow.  She  died  at  sixty-five,  and  can 
be  distinguished  from  the  other  Saint  Elizabeth,  of  whom  we  have 
spoken,  by  her  age,  as  the  former  is  always  represented  as  young, 
while  this  one  is  old  and  venerable.  She  was  so  patient,  and  so 
often  reconciled  the  troubles  of  her  family,  as  to  acquire  in  Spain 
the  title  Sant'  Isabel  de  Paz.  She  is  the  heroine  of  Schiller's  "  Fri- 
dolin,"  though  the  scene  is  in  Germany,  and  her  name  "  Die  Grafin 
von  Savern."    July  8,  A.  d.  1336. 

St.  Eloy  of  Noyon  (Lat.  Sanctus  Eligius ;  Eng,  St.  Loo ;  ItaL 

Sant'  A16  or  L6  ;  Sant'  Eligio).  This 
saint  was  born  at  the  village  of  Cha- 
telas.  He  was  of  humble  origin.  He 
was  at  school  at  Limoges,  and  there 
learned  the  trade  of  a  goldsmith,  in 
which  he  so  excelled,  that  when  he 
went  to  Paris  he  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  the  treasurer  of  the  king,  Clo- 
taire  H.  The  king  desired  to  have 
a  throne  of  gold  set  with  jewels,  and 
it  was  important  to  find  a  skillful  and 
an  honest  man.  Eloy  was  selected, 
and  of  the  material  furnished  him  for 
one  throne  he  made  two.  The  king 
was  so  pleased  with  the  beauty  of 
the  work,  and  the  probity  of  the 
workman,  that  he  fi'om  that  time  em- 
ployed him  in  state  affairs.  His 
successor,  Dagobert,  made  Eloy  Mas- 
ter of  the  Mint.  He  cut  the  dies 
for  the  money,  and  there  are  known 
to  be  thirteen  pieces  bearing  his 
name.  He  was  at  length,  after  the 
death  of  Dagobert,  made  Bishop  of 
Noyon.  He  was  remarkable  for  his 
eloquence,  and  was  sent  to  preach  in 
Belgium,  and  by  some  he  is  believed 
to  have  been  the  first  to  carry  the 
Gospel  to  Sweden  and  Denmark.  In 
spite  of  all  the  duties  of  his  high 
position,  he  still  labored  as  a  gold- 
smith, and  made  many  beautiful 
shrines  for  saints,  and  holy  vessels 
for  churches.    The  Devil  tempted  St. 


(Or-San-Michele.) 
Florence.    Statue.    St.  Eloy. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


99 


Eloy,  as  he  did  so  many  of  the  saints,  and  it  is  said  of  him  as  of 
St.  Dunstan,  that  he  seized  the  Devil's  nose  with  his  hot  tongs. 
One  of  the  miracles  attributed  to  this  saint,  and  represented  on 
the  exterior  of  Or-San-Michele  at  Florence,  is  that  a  horse  being 
brought  to  him  to  be  shod,  which  was  possessed  by  the  devil,  he 
cut  off  the  leg  and  quietly  put  on  the  shoe ;  this  being  done,  he 
made  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  replaced  the  leg,  to  the  great  aston- 
ishment of  all.  He  is  patron  of  Bologna  and  Noyon,  of  goldsmiths 
and  all  other  metal  workers,  and  of  farriers  and  horses.  Decem- 
ber 1,  A.  D.  659. 
St.  Elphege.    See  St.  Alphege. 

St.  Enurchus,  or  Evurtius,  was  sent  into  France  by  the  Church 
at  Rome,  to  attend  to  the  redeeming  of  captives.  The  people  were 
electing  a  Bishop  of  Orleans.  A  dove  alighted  twice  upon  the  head 
of  Enurchus,  and  this  was  considered  as  showing  such  a  remarkable 
sanctity  in  him  that  he  was  made  bishop,  which  office  he  held  more 
than  twenty  years.  One  of  the  miracles  which  he  did,  was  this : 
when  laying  the  foundations  of  his  Church  of  the  Holy  Cross,  he 
directed  the  men  to  dig  in  a  certain  place,  and  they  there  found  a 
pot  of  gold  which  was  enough  to  pay  for  the  church.  September  7, 
A.  D.  340,  or  about  that  time. 

St.  Ephesus  and  St.  PotitUS  are  represented  on  the  walls  of  the 
Campo  Santo  at  Pisa,  and  seem  to  belong  especially  to  that  city. 
St.  Ephesus  was  an  officer  under  Diocletian,  and  was  sent  to  de- 
stroy all  the  Christians  in  Sardinia.  But  he  was  so  warned  by  a 
dream  that  he  became  himself  a  Christian,  and  turned  his  arms 
against  the  Pagans.  He  suffered  martyrdom  with  his  friend  Potitus. 

St.  Ephrem  of  Edessa,  who  on  account  of  his  writings  is  one 
of  the  Fathers  of  the  Greek  Church,  was  a  hermit  of  Syria.  He  is 
represented  in  a  very  curious  Greek  picture,  called  the  "  Obsequies 
of  St.  Ephrem,"  which  is  one  of  the  best  representations  of  hermit 
life.     Greek  festival,  January  28  ;  Latin,  February  1,  about  378. 

St.  Erasmus  of  Formia  {Ital  Sant'  Elmo  or  Erasmo ;  Sp. 
St.  Ermo  or  Eramo ;  Fr.  St.  Elme).  This  saint  suffered  a  most  hor- 
rible martyrdom  under  Diocletian  at  Formia,  now  Mola  di  Gaeta. 
He  so  withstood  all  common  tortures  that  he  was  cut  open  and  his 
entrails  wound  off  like  a  skein  of  silk  on  wheels.  He  was  a  bishop, 
and  is  represented  as  such  with  the  implement  of  his  torture  in  his 
hand.  There  is  an  altar  dedicated  to  him  in  St.  Peter's,  over 
which  a  mosaic  represents  his  death.  It  is  a  copy  of  a  picture  by 
Poussin.  St.  Erasmus  is  invoked  under  the  name  of  Elmo  by  the 
mariners  on  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  in  Spain,  Sicily,  and 
Calabria,  and  is  believed  to  have  power  over  the  tempests.  At 
Naples  a  monastery  and  fortress  bear  his  name.    June  3,  a.  d.  296. 

St.  Ercolano  (Herculanus)  was  Bishop  of  Perugia,  at  the  time 
of  the  invasion  of  the  Goths  under  Totila.    He  labored  hard  and 


100 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


encouraged  the  people  through  the  siege  of  Perugia,  and  when  the 
city  was  taken,  by  order  of  Totila,  he  was  beheaded  on  the  ram- 
parts. He  was  thrown  into  the  ditch,  and  was  found  lying  beside  a 
dead  child  who  was  buried  in  the  same  grave  with  the  saint. 

St.  Ethelberga.  Of  this  saint  there  is  little  known  but  the  one 
fact  that  she  was  the  abbess  of  the  first  Benedictine  nunnery  in 
England,  which  was  at  Barking  in  Essex.    October  11. 


(Ancient  Sculpture,  Ely  Cathedral.)    St.  Ethelreda's  Dream. 

St.  Ethelreda.  This  saint  is  also  called  St.  Audrey.  She  was 
the  foundress  of  the  magnificent  Cathedral  of  Ely.  Her  father  was 
Ina,  king  of  the  East  Angles,  and  when  she  married  Toubert,  or 
Touberch,  prince  of  the  Gervii,  the  isle  of  Ely  was  her  dowry.  She 
had  a  second  husband,  Egfrid,  king  of  Northumbria,  but  after  living 
with  him  in  a  state  of  continency  for  twelve  years,  she  took  the  veil 
at  Coldingham,  with  his  consent.  King  Egfrid  then  repented,  and 
attempted  to  drag  her  from  the  convent.  She  fled  to  a  rocky  point 
called  St.  Ebb's  Head.  Egfrid  pursued  her,  but  the  tide  suddenly 
rose,  and  made  the  rock  inaccessible.  He  married  another  wife. 
She  crossed  the  Humber  with  two  virgins,  who  watched  beside  her 
while  she  slept,  and  had  a  miraculous  dream,  in  which  she  thought 
that  her  staff,  being  stuck  in  the  ground,  had  put  forth  branches  and 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


101 


leaves,  and  become  a  large  tree.  She  is  related  to  have  performed 
a  miracle  about  four  hundred  years  after  her  death.  A  wicked  man 
Britstan,  being  very  sick,  repented,  and  desired  to  dedicate  himself 
to  God  in  the  monastery  at  Ely ;  but  on  his  way  there  he  was  ar- 
rested and  imprisoned.  He  implored  the  aid  of  St.  Ethelreda,  and 
at  night  she,  with  St.  Benedict,  came  to  him,  and  when  she  touched 
his  fetters  they  fell  from  his  feet.  After  being  buried  sixteen  years 
in  the  common  cemetery,  she  was  placed  in  a  beautiful  sarcophagus 
of  marble,  which  was  probably  a  relic  of  the  Bomans,  but  the  people 
believed  it  to  have  been  wrought  for  the  saint  by  angels.  June  23, 
A.  D.  679. 

St.  Eugenia  was  the  daughter  of  Philip,  proconsul  of  Egypt 
in  the  reign  of  Commodus.  She  was  very  learned.  She  was  con- 
verted to  Christianity,  and  put  on  the  attire  of  a  man  and  became 
the  monk  Eugenius.  She  went  to  Bome,  and  was  put  to  death  in 
the  time  of  the  Emperor  Severus.    December  25. 

St.  Eulalia,  of  Merida.  The 
story  of  this  saint  is  told  by  Pru- 
dentius.  Eulalia  was  but  twelve 
years  old,  at  the  time  of  the 
publication  of  the  edict  of  Dio- 
cletian. She  went  to  the  pre- 
fect who  judged  the  Christians, 
and  reproached  him  for  his 
cruelty  and  impiety.  The  gov- 
ernor immediately  seized  her, 
and  placed  on  one  side  of  her 
the  instruments  of  torture,  and 
on  the  other  the  offerings  for 
the  idol.  She  trampled  the 
oiferings  under  her  feet,  threw 
down  the  idol,  and  spat  at  the 
judge.  She  was  then  tortured 
to  death,  and  as  she  died,  a 
white  dove  issued  from  her 
mouth  and  flew  to  heaven. 
She  is  much  venerated  in 
Spain,  and  is  buried  at  Merida. 
Another  St.  Eulalia  is  buried 
at  Barcelona.    December  10. 

St.  Eunomia.  See  St.  Afra, 
of  Augsburg. 

St.  Euphemia,  of  Chalce- 
donia  ((rr.  *^Ay.  'Evcfyrj/jiLa ; 
signification,  praise  ;  ItaL 
Sant'  Eufemia;  Fr.  Sainte  Euphemie).    She  was  a  Greek  saint, 


(Andrea  Mantegna.)  St.  Euphemia. 


102 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


and  in  the  Eastern  Church  is  styled  Great,  for  such  was  the 
fame  of  her  beauty  and  her  courageous  endurance.  There  is  a 
homily  upon  St.  Euphemia  among  the  writings  of  Asterius,  who 
wrote  about  a.  d.  400.  She  suffered  death  not  far  from  Byzan- 
tium, about  307.  She  was  very  beautiful  in  person.  After  suf- 
fering many  tortures  she  was  thrown  to  the  lions,  who  licked 
her  feet,  and  refused  to  do  violence  to  her.  Priscus,  her  judge, 
was  so  enraged  at  this,  that  one  of  the  soldiers,  who  desired  to 
please  him,  killed  the  maiden  with  his  sword.  Within  a  cen- 
tury from  the  time  of  her  death  there  were  many  churches  dedi- 
cated to  her,  both  East  and  West.  In  Constantinople  alone,  there 
were  four.  Leo,  the  Iconoclast,  ordered  her  relics  to  be  cast  into 
the  sea,  but  they  appeared  again  in  the  Island  of  Lemnos.  From 
here  different  portions  of  her  remains  were  carried  to  many  places. 

September  16,  A.  d.  307. 

St.  Eustace  (Lat.  Sanctus  Eusta- 
tius ;  Ital.  Sant'  Eustachio ;  Fr.  Saint 
Eustache).  Before  his  conversion  this 
saint  was  called  Placidus.  He  was 
captain  of  the  guards  of  the  Emperor 
Trajan.  He  was  a  lover  of  hunting, 
and  one  day  when  in  the  forest,  he 
pursued  a  white  stag,  which  fled  and 
ascended  a  high  rock.  As  he  looked, 
he  saw  between  the  horns  of  the  stag  a 
radiant  cross,  and  on  it  an  image  of  Je- 
sus. He  fell  on  his  knees,  and  a  voice 
seemed  to  come  from  the  figure  on  the 
cross,  announcing  itself  as  the  Redeemer, 
and  demanding  of  Placidus  that  he 
should  believe.  He  answered,  "  Lord, 
I  believe."  He  was  then  told  that  he 
should  suffer  much  for  Christ,  but  he 
declared  himself  ready  to  do  so.  He 
returned  to  his  home,  and  was  baptized, 
together  with  his  wife  and  two  sons,  and 
was  called  Eustace.  Misfortune  soon 
came.  His  property  was  taken  by  rob- 
bers, and  his  wife  carried  away  by 
pirates,  and  he  wandered  in  poverty 
with  his  sons.  One  day  he  wished  to 
cross  a  stream,  and  swam  over  with  one 
child,  whom  he  left  on  the  bank,  while  he 
returned  for  the  other.  But  when  he 
was  in  the  midst  of  the  river,  there 
(Domenichino.)  St.  Eustace.       came  on  one  side  a  lion,  and  on  the 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


103 


other  a  wolf,  and  carried  off  the  two  boys.  He  went  to  a  village 
where  he  labored  for  his  support  for  fifteen  years.  At  that  time 
the  Emperor  Adrian  required  the  services  of  Placidus,  and 
searched  for  and  found  him.  He  was  put  again  at  the  head  of 
his  troops,  and  his  honors  restored  to  him  with  new  power  and  riches. 
But  his  heart  was  lonely,  and  he  mourned  for  his  wife  and  sons. 
Now  they  had  been  rescued  from  their  dangers,  and  at  last  they  were 
all  again  united.  Then  Eustace  believed  that  his  troubles  were 
ended ;  but  soon  Adrian  ordered  a  great  sacrifice  to  the  gods,  and 
when  Eustace  refused  to  join  in  it  with  his  household,  they  were 
shut  up  in  a  brazen  bull,  and  a  fire  was  kindled  beneath  it.  Septem- 
ber 20,  A.  D.  118. 

St.  Eutropia.    See  St.  Afra,  of  Augsburg. 

St.  Ewald  the  Black  and  St.  Ewald  the  Fair.  These  saints 
were  twins,  and  Saxons.  They  left  England  in  the  days  of  St. 
Boniface,  and  went  to  Ireland  to  study.  They  then  went  through 
Friesland  to  Westphalia,  where  they  were  to  preach.  Here  they 
sought  out  the  prince  of  the  country,  and  asked  permission  to  preach, 
but  they  were  murdered  by  the  barbarians  and  their  bodies  thrown 
into  the  river.  A  light  was  seen  above  the  spot  where  they  were, 
and  their  remains  were  recovered  and  carried  to  Cologne,  and  bur- 
ied in  the  church  of  St.  Cuthbert.  They  are  patron  saints  of  West- 
phalia.    October  3,  A.  D.  695  or  700. 

St.  Fabian  was  made  Bishop  of  Rome  in  a.  d.  236.  Eusebius 
says  he  was  chosen  because  a  dove  alighted  on  him  while  the  peo- 
ple and  clergy  were  choosing  a  Pope.  At  the  time,  he  was  a  stran- 
ger to  all  present.  He  died  a  martyr  in  the  persecution  of  Decius. 
January  20,  A.  D.  250. 

St.  Faith  (^Lat,  Sancta  Fides)  was  born  at  Agen  in  Aquitaine. 
She  had  great  beauty,  but  from  her  youth  was  insensible  to  the 
pleasures  of  the  world.  Because  she  refused  to  sacrifice  to  Diana, 
while  still  very  young,  Dacian,  the  Prefect  of  the  Guards,  subjected 
her  to  the  most  fearful  tortures.  She  was  beaten  with  rods,  then 
half  roasted  on  a  brazen  bed,  and  at  length  beheaded.  The  crypt 
of  old  St.  Paul's  in  London  was  dedicated  in  the  name  of  this  saint. 
October  8,  A.  B.  290. 

St.  Faustinus  and  St.  Jovita  (Ital  San  Faustino  and  San  Gio- 
vita).  These  were  brothers  who  were  converted  by  the  preaching 
of  St.  Apollonius,  at  Brescia.  They  preached,  ministered  to  the 
poor,  and  zealously  devoted  themselves  to  a  Christian  life.  By  the 
command  of  Adrian  they  were  seized  and  thrown  into  the  am23hi- 
theatre.  The  beasts  did  not  attack  them,  and  they  were  afterwards 
beheaded  outside  the  walls  of  Brescia,  of  which  city  they  are  the 
patron  saints.    February  15,  A.  d.  121. 

St.  Felicitas  and  her  seven  sons  (liaL  Santa  Felicitk ;  Fr. 
Sainte  Felicite.)  This  saint  was  of  an  illustrious  Roman  family.  A 


104 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


widow,  she  devoted  herself  to  the  care  of  her  ehilaren,  and  to  pious 
works  of  charity.  She  had  great  riches,  which  made  her  enemies 
anxious  to  accuse  her  as  a  Christian,  so  that  they  might  share  the 
spoils  ;  and  her  influence  having  converted  many  to  her  religion,  gave 
them  a  powerful  plea  against  her.  It  was  in  the  time  of  the  great 
persecution  of  the  Emperor  Marcus  Aurelius  Antonius.  She  was 
called  before  Publius,  a  prefect  of  Rome,  who  commanded  her 
to  sacrifice  to  the  gods  she  had  rejected.  This  she  refused,  and 
when  reminded  of  the  dangers  which  threatened  her  children  no 
less  than  herself,  she  replied,  that  they  knew  how  to  choose  ever- 
lasting life  in  preference  to  eternal  death.  She  witnessed  the  tor- 
tures and  death  of  her  sons,  never  ceasing  to  exhort  them  to  remain 
true  to  their  faith.  Januarius,  the  eldest,  was  scourged  with  thongs 
loaded  with  lead.  Felix  and  Philip  were  beaten  with  clubs.  Syl- 
vanus  was  thrown  from  a  rock.  Alexander,  Yitalis,  and  Martial 
were  beheaded.  After  they  had  all  thus  suffered  martyrdom,  Felic- 
itas  praised  God  that  she  had  been  the  mother  of  seven  sons  whom 
He  had  deemed  worthy  of  being  saints  in  Paradise.  Her  only  de- 
sire was  that  she  might  quickly  follow  them.  But  she  was  kept  four 
months  in  prison,  with  the  hope  that  this  prolonged  agony  would 
destroy  her  faith  and  strength.  But  at  length  she  was  tortured  and 
killed.  Some  say  she  was  beheaded,  and  others  that  she  was  thrown 
into  a  cauldron  of  boiling  oil.  In  art  she  is  represented  as  hooded 
or  veiled  like  a  widow,  with  the  martyr's  palm,  and  surrounded  by 
her  sons.  The  representations  of  this  Boman  family  are  sometimes 
confounded  with  those  of  the  Seven  Maccabees  and  their  heroic 
mother.  The  only  guide  by  which  to  distinguish  them  is,  that  St. 
Felicitas  was  not  recognized  in  the  East.  In  Byzantine  art,  seven 
young  martyrs  with  their  mother  probably  represent  the  Jewish 
rather  than  the  Roman  saints.  St.  Felicitas  is  the  patroness  of  male 
heirs.    November  23,  A.  D.  173.    Festival  of  the  sons,  July  10. 

St.  Felix  de  Valois.  November  20,  a.  d.  1212.  See  St.  John 
de  Matha. 

St.  Felix  de  Cantalieio.  This  saint  was  a  native  of  Citta 
Ducale  in  Umbria.  He  was  born  in  1513.  His  parents  were  very 
poor.  He  entered  a  Capuchin  monastery  as  a  lay  brother,  but 
afterwards  took  the  habit,  and  was  sent  to  the  Capuccini  at  Bome. 
Here,  for  forty-five  years  he  daily  begged  the  bread  and  wine  for 
his  convent,  and  such  an  abundance  of  these  articles  was  never 
known  there,  as  during  his  time.  On  this  account  he  is  represented 
in  the  habit  of  his  order,  with  a  beggar's  wallet,  which  has  two  ends 
like  a  purse  thrown  over  his  shoulder,  to  contain  the  alms  begged 
for  his  convent.  The  extreme  devotion  of  his  life  won  the  admira- 
tion not  only  of  the  brotherhood  to  which  he  belonged,  but  of  all 
who  saw  him.  It  is  told  of  him,  that  as  he  went  out  on  a  stormy 
ni^ht  to  beo;,  he  met  an  ano-elic  child,  who  orave  him  a  loaf  of  bread 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


105 


and  a  benediction,  and  then  vanished  from  his  sight.  He  was  the 
first  saint  of  the  Order  of  the  Capuchins.    May  21,  A.  d.  1587. 


St.  Felix  de  Cantalicio. 

St.  Felix  or  Felice.    July  12.    See  St.  Nabor. 

St.  Ferdinand  of  Castile  {Sp.  El  Santo  Eey,  Don  Fernando, 
III).  This  great  king,  warrior  and  saint,  was  the  eldest  son  of 
Alphonso,  king  of  Leon,  and  Berengaria  of  Castile.  His  parents 
were  separated  by  the  Pope,  because  being  within  the  prohibited 
degrees  of  consanguinity  they  had  married  without  a  dispensation. 
Their  children  were,  however,  declared  legitimate.  Berengaria  re- 
turned to  her  father's  court  and  lived  in  retirement.  The  influence 
she  had  over  Ferdinand  was  extraordinary,  and  endured  throughout 
his  life.    Berengaria,  when  she  came  into  possession  of  Castile,  gave 


106 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


up  lier  rights  to  her  son,  and  when  at  his  father's  death  he  suc- 
ceeded to  the  throne  of  Leon,  the  two  kingdoms  were  united.  Fer- 
dinand was  married  to  Joan,  countess  of  Ponthieu,  who  was  as  obe- 
dient and  loving  to  Berengaria  as  was  her  husband.  Ferdinand 
fought  bravely  against  the  Moors,  and  expelled  them  from  Toledo, 
Cordova,  and  Seville.  It  is  related  that  at  the  battle  of  Xeres,  St. 
lago  appeared  at  the  head  of  the  troops,  conducting  the  fight. 


St.  Ferdinand.  (Murillo.) 

Thousands  of  Moors  were  slain,  but  there  was  only  a  single  Chris- 
tian killed,  and  he  was  one  who  had  gone  into  battle  refusing  to 
forgive  an  injury.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  Ferdinand  was  plan- 
ning an  expedition  to  Africa.  In  the  "  Annals  of  the  Artists  of 
Spain,"  we  are  told  that  he  founded  the  Cathedral  of  Burgos, 
"  which  points  to  heaven  with  spires  more  rich  and  delicate  than 
any  that  crown  the  cities  of  the  Imperial  Bhine.  He  also  began  to 
rebuild  the  Cathedral  of  Toledo,  where  during  four  hundred  years 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


107 


artists  swarmed  and  labored  like  bees,  and  splendid  prelates  lavished 
their  princely  revenues  to  make  fair  and  glorious  the  temple  of  God 
intrusted  to  their  care."  When  urged  to  tax  his  people,  in  order  to 
recruit  his  army  and  fill  his  empty  coffers,  he  made  a  reply  w^hich 
reflects  more  glory  upon  his  character  than  his  victories  or  his  ca- 
thedral foundations  can  give.  God,"  he  replied,  "  in  whose  cause 
I  fight,  will  supply  my  need.  I  fear  more  the  curse  of  one  poor  old 
woman,  than  a  whole  army  of  Moors  !  "  He  died  as  a  penitent, 
with  a  cord  about  his  neck  and  a  crucifix  in  his  hand.  His  daugh- 
ter, Elenora,  was  married  to  Edward  1.  of  England.  She  possessed 
the  piety  and  courage  of  her  father.  It  was  she  who  sucked  the  poi- 
son from  her  husband's  wound.  When  the  bull  which  canonized 
Ferdinand  reached  Seville,  the  greatest  religious  festival  ever  held 
there  took  place.  He  was  buried  in  the  Cathedral  of  Seville. 
There  is  a  portrait  of  St.  Ferdinand,  thought  to  be  authentic,  in  the 
convent  of  San  Clemente  at  Seville.    May  30,  a.  d.  1152. 

St.  Pilomena  {Lat.  Sancta  Philumena;  Fr.  Sainte  Philo- 
mene).  Recently,  within  a  quarter  of  a  century,  this  saint  has 
come  to  be  very  popular.  Her  story  is  vague  and  fanciful  in  the  ex- 
treme. In  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  a  sepulchre  was 
discovered  in  the  Catacomb  of  Priscilla  at  Rome,  in  which  was  the 
skeleton  of  a  young  girl.  It  was  adorned  with  various  rudely 
painted  symbols,  and  a  portion  of  an  inscription,  the  beginning  and 
end  of  which  were  gone.    It  was, 

— lumena  pax  te  cum  fi — 

These  remains,  supposed  to  be  those  of  a  martyr,  were  placed  in  the 
treasury  of  relics  in  the  Lateran.  When  Pius  YII.  returned  from 
France,  a  Neapolitan  prelate  was  sent  to  congratulate  him.  One  of 
the  priests  in  his  train  begged  for  some  relics,  and  the  remains  de- 
scribed above  were  given  him.  The  inscription  was  translated, 
"  Saint  Philomena,  rest  in  peace.  Amen."  Another  priest  had  a 
vision,  in  which  St.  Filomena  appeared,  with  great  glory,  and  re- 
vealed that  she  had  suffered  death  for  preferring  the  Christian  faith 
and  her  vows  of  chastity  to  marriage  with  the  emperor,  who  wished 
to  make  her  his  wife.  Afterwards  a  young  artist  was  told  in  a  vis- 
ion that  this  emperor  was  Diocletian,  but  it  is  also  thought  to  have 
been  Maximian.  These  two  visions  so  established  the  claims  of  the 
saint,  that  the  priest,  Francesco  da  Lucia,  carried  the  relics  to  Na- 
ples. They  were  inclosed  in  a  case  made  in  the  form  of  a  human 
body.  It  was  dressed  in  a  crimson  tunic  and  a  white  satin  petti- 
coat. The  face  was  painted,  a  garland  of  flowers  put  upon  the 
head,  and  a  lily  and  a  javelin,  with  its  point  reversed,  emblematic  of 
her  purity  and  her  martyrdom,  were  put  in  her  hand.  She  was 
placed,  half  sitting,  in  a  sarcophagus  with  glass  sides.  After  lying 
in  state  in  the  church  of  Sant'  Angiolo,  she  was  carried  in  procession 


108 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


to  Mugnano,  amid  tlie  acclamations  of  the  people,  performing  mira- 
cles on  the  way.  Jewels  of  great  value  now  decorate  her  shrine. 
Her  image  is  found  in  Venetian  churches,  in  Bologna  and  Lombardy, 
At  Pisa,  in  the  church  of  San  Francisco,  and  at  Paris  in  the 
churches  of  St.  Gervais  and  St.  Merry,  there  are  chapels  dedicated 
to  St.  Filomena.  The  Jesuits  are  said  to  receive  this  saint.  Au- 
gust 10,  A.  D.  303. 

St.  Fina  of  Gemignano.  Tliis  saint  was  not  a  martyr,  but  re- 
ceived the  honor  of  canonization  on  account  of  her  patience  and 
cheerfulness  during  long  and  fearful  sufferings  from  disease.  She 
labored  as  long  as  was  possible  for  the  relief  of  all  the  poor  and 
wretched  within  her  reach.  She  is  scarcely  known  outside  of  the 
little  town  where  she  dwelt,  but  there  her  name  is  typical  of  pa- 
tience, fortitude,  and  charity.  She  was  warned  of  her  death  by  a 
vision  of  St.  Gregory,  whom  she  especially  honored,  and  at  the 
moment  of  her  decease  all  the  bells  in  San  Gemignano  were  miracu- 
lously tolled.  As  her  body  was  borne  to  the  grave,  she  raised  her 
hand  as  if  to  bless  her  aged  nurse,  who  from  that  time  was  healed 
of  a  troublesome  disease.  The  life  of  this  saint  is  beautifully 
painted  on  the  chapel  dedicated  to  her  in  the  Cathedral  of  San 
Gemignano.    March  12,  A.  D.  1253. 

St.  Plavia  was  the  daughter  of  a  Roman  Senator,  and  sister  of 
St.  Placidus,  who  was  taken  by  his  father  at  the  age  of  five  years 
to  Subiaco  to  be  educated  by  St.  Benedict.  Flavia  followed  her 
brother  to  Sicily,  where  he  was  sent  by  his  superior,  and  she,  with 
Placidus  and  thirty  of  their  companions,  was  slain  by  the  barbarians 
outside  of  their  convent  near  Messina.  This  legend  is  not  con- 
sidered as  canonical  by  later  Benedictine  writers.  October  5,  A.  D. 
540. 

St.  Florian  is  one  of  the  guardian  saints  of  Austria.  He  was  a 
Koman  soldier,  who,  on  account  of  his  Christian  faith,  was  put  to 
death  in  the  reign  of  Galerius.  A  millstone  was  tied  round  his 
neck,  and  he  was  thrown  into  the  river  Enns.  Many  miracles  were 
attributed  to  him,  one  of  which  was,  that  with  a  single  pitcher  of 
water  he  extinguished  a  large  conflagration.  Representations  of 
this  saint  are  frequent  in  Austria  and  Bohemia,  and  often  adorn 
pumps  and  fountains.  A  magnificent  monastery  bearing  his  name 
commemorates  his  life,  and  its  painful  end.  A  picture  of  St.  Florian, 
by  Murillo,  is  in  St.  Petersburg.    May  4. 

St.  Francesca  Romana.  The  church  dedicated  to  this  saint 
in  Rome  was  the  scene  of  her  fasts  and  vigils,  and  is  now  called 
by  her  name  rather  than  that  of  S.  Maria  Nuova,  which  it  formerly 
bore.  In  the  Torre  de'  Spechi  is  her  convent,  which  has  been  the 
best  school  in  all  Rome  for  the  girls  of  the  higher  classes.  Her 
father  was  Paolo  di  Bassi.  She  was  born  in  1384.  She  was  ex- 
tremely pious  from  her  childhood,  and  would  have  preferred  the 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


109 


veil  of  the  nun  to  that  of  a  bride ;  but  her  father  married  her  to 
Lorenzo  Ponziano,  a  rich  nobleman.  She  shunned  the  society  and 
pleasures  belonging  to  her  station,  and  devoted  herself  as  far  as  pos- 
sible to  a  religious  life.  Every  day  she  recited  the  entire  Office  of 
the  Virgin,  and  went  in  disguise  to  her  vineyard  beyond  the  gate  of 
San  Paolo  to  gather  fagots,  which  she  brought  on  her  head  into  the 
city,  and  distributed  to  the  poor.  During  the  lifetime  of  her  hus- 
band she  collected  the  company  of  women,  whose  superior  she 
became  after  his  death.  Their  principal  labor  was  teaching  the 
young,  and  their  vows  were  not  irrevocable.  She  spent  so  much 
time  in  prayer  that  she  was  frequently  interrupted  by  the  demands 
of  her  family.  Once  it  happened  that  while  reciting  the  Office  of 
Our  Lady  she  was  called  away  four  times  at  the  same  verse ;  when 
she  returned  the  fifth  time  she  found  this  verse  written  on  the  page 
in  golden  light.  This 
was  done  by  a  guar- 
dian angel  who  at- 
tended her  always, 
and  was  visible  only 
to  herself  Many 
wonderful  works  are 
attributed  to  her  : 
the  raising  a  dead 
child  to  life,  the  stay- 
ing of  an  epidem- 
ic by  her  prayers, 
and  the  increasing 
of  bread  by  prayer, 
when  there  was  not 
enough  for  the  in- 
mates of  her  con- 
vent, are  some  of  the 
most  important  results  of  her  power  to  work  miracles.  She  died  of 
a  fever  at  the  house  of  her  son,  whom  she  had  gone  to  comfort  on 
the  occasion  of  some  affliction.  Her  fame  was  not  by  any  means 
confined  to  Kome,  but  was  great  in  all  Italy.    March  9,  A.  d.  1440. 

St.  Francis  of  Assisi  {LaU  Sanctus  Franciscus,  Pater  Seraph- 
icus ;  Ital.  San  Francisco  di  Assisi ;  Fr.  Saint  Fran9ois  d' Assise). 
St.  Francis,  called  the  Seraphic,  from  the  peculiar  favor  in  which  he 
was  held  by  Heaven,  was  the  founder  of  the  Franciscans,  one  of 
the  three  Mendicant  Orders  of  Friars.  His  father,  Pietro  Bernard- 
one,  was  a  rich  merchant.  His  baptismal  name  was  Giovanni,  but 
he  acquired  the  title  of  Francisco  (the  Frenchman),  from  the  fact 
that  his  father  had  him  early  instructed  in  French  as  a  preparation 
for  business.  In  his  early  years  Francis  was  beloved  for  his  gener- 
ous and  compassionate  heart,  and  remarkable  for  his  prodigality  and 


(Domenichino  —  fresco  at  Grotta  Ferrata.) 
St.  Fraacesca  Romana. 


]10 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


love  of  gay  pleasures.  In  a  quarrel  between  the  inhabitants  of 
Assisi  and  those  of  Perugia,  Francis  was  taken  a  prisoner,  and  held 
for  a  year  in  the  fortress  of  Perugia.  On  reaching  home  he  was 
very  ill  for  months,  and  it  was  during  this  sickness  that  his  thoughts 
were  .turned  to  the  consideration  of  the  wicked  uselessness  of  the 
life  he  had  lived.  Soon  after  his  recovery  he  met  a  beggar,  in 
whom  he  recognized  one  who  had  formerly  been  known  to  him  as 
rich  and  noble.  Francis  exchanged  garments  with  him,  putting  on 
the  tattered  cloak  of  the  mendicant,  and  giving  him  the  rich  clothes 
in  which  he  was  dressed.  That  same  night,  in  a  vision,  he  thought 
himself  in  a  splendid  apartment,  filled  with  all  kinds  of  arms  and 
many  rich  jewels  and  beautiful  garments,  and  all  were  marked  with 
the  sign  of  the  cross.  In  the  midst  of  them  stood  Christ,  and  he 
said,  "  These  are  the  riches  reserved  for  my  servants,  and  the 
weapons  wherewith  I  arm  those  who  fight  in  my  cause."  From  tliis, 
Francis  thought  that  he  was  to  be  a  great  soldier,  for  he  knew  not 
as  yet  of  the  spiritual  weapons  Christ  gives  his  disciples.  After- 
wards, when  he  went  to  pray  in  the  half  ruined  church  of  San 
Damiano,  as  he  knelt  he  heard  a  voice  say,  "  Francis,  repair  my 
Church  which  falleth  to  ruin."  Taking  this  in  its  most  literal  sense 
he  sold  some  merchandise,  and  took  the  money  to  the  priests  of  San 
Damiano  for  the  repairing  of  their  church.  His  father  was  so  angry 
at  this  that  Francis  hid  himself  many  days  in  a  cave  in  order  to 
escape  from  his  wrath.  When  he  returned  to  the  city  he  was  so 
changed,  so  haggard,  and  so  ragged,  that  he  was  not  recognized,  and 
the  boys  hooted  him  in  the  streets.  His  father  believed  him  insane' 
and  confined  him,  but  his  mother  set  him  at  liberty,  begging  him  at 
the  same  time  to  return  to  his  former  mode  of  hfe,  and  not  to  pro- 
voke his  father  and  disgrace  them  all  by  his  strange  conduct.  At 
length  his  father  took  him  to  the  bishop,  to  be  advised  by  him. 
When  Francis  saw  the  holy  man,  he  threw  himself  at  his  feet ;  he 
abjured  his  former  life,  and  throwing  his  garments  to  his  father,  said, 
"  Henceforth  I  recognize  no  father  but  Him  who  is  in  Heaven." 
The  bishop  wept  with  joy  and  admiration,  and  taking  from  a  beggar 
who  stood  by  a  coarse  cloak,  he  gave  it  to  Francis,  who  gladly 
received  it  as  the  first  fruits  of  the  poverty  on  which  he  was 
resolved.  He  was  now  twenty-five  years  old.  The  first  labor  he 
performed  was  that  of  caring  for  the  lepers  in  a  hospital,  and  this 
was  considered  the  more  meritorious  from  the  fact  that  before  this 
he  could  not  look  on  a  leper  without  fainting.  The  next  years  of 
his  life  were  passed  in  prayer  and  penitence.  He  wandered  among 
his  native  mountains,  begging  alms,  every  penny  of  which  that  could 
be  spared,  after  supplying  the  imperative  wants  of  nature,  was  given 
for  the  reparation  of  churches.  He  dwelt  in  a  cell  near  the  chapel 
of  S.  Maria  degli  Angeli ;  and  several  disciples,  attracted  by  the 
fame  of  his  piety,  joined  him  here.    Poor  as  he  was,  his  attention 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


111 


was  attracted  to  the  text,  "  Take  nothing  for  your  journey,  neither 
staves,  nor  scrip,  nor  bread,  nor  money,  nor  two  coats,"  and  he  cast 


(School  of  Giotto.) 
St.  Francis  espouses  Poverty,  Chastity^ and  Obedience. 


112 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


about  him  to  see  if  he  had  any  superfluous  comfort.  He  could  find 
nothing  that  he  could  spare,  save  his  leather  girdle  ;  and  casting  that 
away,  he  used  instead  a  rope  of  hemp.  This  has  also  been  adopted 
by  his  followers,  from  which  peculiarity  they  are  called  Cordeliers. 
He  preached  with  marvelous  effect,  and  soon  had  many  followers. 
Among  his  female  converts  none  are  of  greater  note  than  the  first, 
Clara  d'Assisi,  the  beautiful  "  Gray  Sister,"  the  foundress  of  the 
Order  of  the  "  Poor  Clares."  The  vow  of  poverty,  the  most  com- 
plete and  absolute,  was  insisted  upon  by  St.  Francis  in  his  Order. 
One  of  the  Franciscan  legends  is,  that  as  he  journeyed  to  Siena, 
"  St.  Francis  was  encountered  by  three  maidens,  in  poor  raiment, 
and  exactly  resembling  each  other  in  age  and  appearance,  who 
saluted  him  with  the  words,  '  Welcome,  Lady  Poverty  ! '  and  sud- 
denly disappeared.  The  brethren  not  irrationally  concluded  that 
this  apparition  imported  some  mystery  pertaining  to  St.  Francis,  and 
that  by  the  three  poor  maidens  were  signified  Chastity,  Obedience, 
and  Poverty,  the  beauty  and  sum  of  evangelical  perfection  —  all  of 
which  shone  with  equal  and  consummate  lustre  in  the  man  of  God, 
though  he  made  his  chief  glory  the  privilege  of  Poverty."  This 
legend  has  been  illustrated  by  various  pictures,  and  Giotto  made 
Poverty  the  bride  of  him,  who  did  indeed  woo  the  sufferings  which 
she  brought,  with  a  more  devoted  ardor  than  that  with  which  most 
lovers  seek  the  sweet  and  sometimes  glittering  rewards  of  more 
attractive  mistresses.  At  length  Francis  went  to  Rome  to  obtain 
the  confirmation  of  his  Order.  At  first  the  pope.  Innocent  HI.,  con- 
sidering him  as  an  enthusiast,  repulsed  his  suit.  That  night  in  a 
vision  the  pope  saw  the  walls  of  the  Lateran  tottering,  and  only 
kept  from  falling  by  the  support  of  the  very  man  to  whom  he  had 
refused  his  aid.  He  immediately  sent  for  Francis,  and  granted  him 
the  privileges  he  desired  for  his  Order,  and  full  dispensation  to 
preach.  He  then  built  cells  for  his  disciples,  near  his  own,  and 
gave  his  brotherhood  the  name  of  "  Frati  Minori,"  to  signify  that 
humility  should  be  their  chief  attribute,  and  that  each  should  strive 
for  the  lowest,  rather  than  the  highest  place  —  while  in  his  own 
eyes  he  was  himself  the  basest  of  men,  and  he  desired  to  be  thus 
considered  by  all.  His  fear  that  his  disciples  should  seek  any  other 
than  the  deepest  poverty  led  him  to  forbid  the  building  of  any  con- 
vent, and  he  commanded  that  the  churches  built  for  them  should  be 
the  plainest  and  most  inexpensive.  Another  marked  peculiarity  of 
this  holy  man  was  what  is  termed  the  "  gift  of  tears."  He  wept 
and  prayed  continually,  on  account  of  his  own  sins  and  those  of  the 
whole  world ;  and  he  resolved  to  go  to  preach  to  the  heathen,  and 
indulged  the  hope  that  God  would  grant  him  the  great  glory  of 
martyrdom.  He  attempted  at  different  times  to  go  to  Syria  and 
Morocco ;  but  he  was  driven  back  by  a  storm  the  first  time,  and  the 
second  was  arrested  by  sickness.    But  he  did  many  miracles,  and 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


113 


founded  convents  in  Spain.  Ten  years  after  the  establishment  of 
his  Order  he  held  the  first  general  chapter,  at  which  there  assembled 
five  thousand  friars.  They  seemed  to  be  thoroughly  inspired  with 
the  spirit  of  their  leader,  and  even  he  found  it  necessary  to  caution 
them  against  an  excess  of  austerities  and  penances.  From  this 
assembly  he  sent  forth  missionaries  to  other  countries,  and  again 
started  himself  to  preach  in  Egypt  and  Syria.  He  only  succeeded 
in  reaching  Damietta,  where  he  was  taken  before  the  sultan,  who 
would  neither  allow  him  to  preach  nor  to  suffer  martyrdom  in  his 
territory,  but  sent  him  back  to  Italy,  looking  upon  him  with  oriental 
regard  and  kindness,  as  one  insane  or  wanting  in  mental  capacity. 
A  few  years  later,  having  obtained  from  Pope  Honorius  the  con- 
firmation of  his  Order,  he  resigned  his  office  as  its  head,  and  retired 
to  a  cave  on  Mount  Alverna.  Here  he  had  many  trances  and 
visions  of  our  Saviour  and  his  blessed  mother,  and  it  is  said  that 
the  saint  was  sometimes  raised  into  the  air  in  ecstatic  raptures  of 
devotion.  Here  it  was  that  he  had  the  wonderful  vision,  and 
received  the  especial  marks  of  the  favor  of  God,  which  obtained  for 
him  the  title  of  The  Seraphic.  "  After  having  fasted  for  fifty  days 
in  his  solitary  cell  on  Mount  Alverna,  and  passed  the  time  in  all  the 
fervor  of  prayer  and  ecstatic  contemplation,  transported  almost  to 
heaven  by  the  ardor  of  his  desires,  —  then  he  beheld,  as  it  were,  a 
seraph,  with  six  shining  wings,  bearing  down  upon  him  from  above, 
and  between  his  wings  was  the  form  of  a  man  crucified.  By  this 
he  understood  to  be  figured  a  heavenly  and  immortal  intelligence, 
subject  to  death  and  humiliation.  And  it  was  manifested  to  him 
that  he  was  to  be  transformed  into  a  resemblance  to  Christ,  not  by 
the  martyrdom  of  the  flesh,  but  by  the  might  and  fire  of  Divine 
love.  When  the  vision  had  disappeared,  and  he  had  recovered  a 
little  from  its  effect,  it  was  seen  that  in  his  hands,  his  feet,  and  side 
he  carried  the  wounds  of  our  Saviour."  It  has  remained  an  article 
of  belief  that  these  wounds  were  really  impressed  by  a  supernatural 
power.  Francis  in  his  humility  desired  to  conceal  the  great  favor 
and  honor  he  had  received,  but,  notwithstanding  his  endeavors,  they 
were  seen  by  many.  His  last  days  were  full  of  suffering.  As  death 
approached,  he  commanded  those  about  him  to  place  him  on  the 
earth.  He  attempted  to  repeat  the  141st  Psalm,  and  at  the  last 
verse,  "  Bring  my  soul  out  of  prison,"  he  breathed  his  last.  He  had 
requested  that  his  body  should  be  buried  with  those  of  the  malefac- 
tors, at  a  place  called  the  Colle  dTnferno,  outside  the  walls  of  his 
native  city.  This  request  was  fulfilled,  and  as  his  body  was  borne 
past  the  Church  of  San  Damiano,  Clara  and  her  nuns  came  out  to 
take  a  farewell  of  all  that  remained  of  him  who  had  shown  her  the 
true  religion.  Only  two  years  passed  before  his  canonization,  and 
the  commencement  of  the  church  which  covers  his  remains.  These 
are  still  entire  and  unviolated  in  their  tomb,  which  is  in  a  hollow 
8 


114 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


rock.  There  are  numberless  legends  connected  with  St.  Francis,  a 
vast  number  of  which  are  written  in  picture  history.  Many  of  them 
are  illustrative  of  his  love  for  all  lower  animals  and  even  insects ; 
for  he  felt  that  love  of  Christ  in  our  hearts  should  fill  us  with  sym- 
pathy for  everything  that  can  suffer  pain,  or  be  benefited  by  kind- 
ness. When  in  Rome,  he  had  always  with  him  a  pet  lamb.  One 
instance  of  his  tenderness  is  thus  given  :  "  One  day  he  met,  in  his  road, 
a  young  man  on  his  way  to  Siena  to  sell  some  doves,  which  he  had 
caught  in  a  snare ;  and  Francis  said  to  him,  '  O  good  young  man  ! 
these  are  the  birds  to  whom  the  Scripture  compares  those  who  are 
pure  and  faithful  before  God  :  do  not  kill  them,  I  beseech  thee,  but 
give  them  rather  to  me  ; '  and  when  they  were  given  to  him,  he  put 
them  in  his  bosom  and  carried  them  to  his  convent  at  Ravacciano, 
where  he  made  for  them  nests,  and  fed  them  every  day,  until  they 
became  so  tame  as  to  eat  from  his  hand.  And  the  young  man  had 
also  his  recompense ;  for  he  became  a  friar  and  lived  a  holy  life 
from  that  day  forth."  There  is  in  the  church  at  Assisi  a  picture  of 
St.  Francis,  painted  soon  after  his  death,  under  the  oversight  of  those 
who  had  known  him  well.  It  has  almost  the  value  of  a  portrait. 
October  4,  A.  d.  1226. 
St.  Francis  de  Paula.    This  saint,  though  a  native  of  Paola,  a 


disciples  of  the  Church.    King  Louis  XI.  of  France  had  heard  of 


St.  Francis  de  Paula. 


small  city  of  Calabria,  is  more 
important  in  France,  and  in 
connection  Avith  French  history, 
than  in  his  own  country.  It 
was  for  this  saint  that  Charles 
VIII.  founded  the  Church  of 
the  Trinita-di-Monti  at  Rome. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  went 
with  his  parents  to  the  shrine 
of  St.  Francis  at  Assisi.  On 
his  return  he  became  a  hermit 
and  lived  in  a  cave  near  Reg- 
gio.  His  fame  drew  disciples 
about  him,  for  whom  the  people 
built  cells  and  a  little  chapel. 
He  called  his  little  band  Mini- 
mes,  or  the  Hermits  of  St. 
Francis,  for  they  followed  the 
Franciscan  rule,  adding  to  it 
even  greater  austerities  than 
it  already  prescribed.  They 
kept  Lent  all  the  year,  and  they 
calle  1  themselves,  as  their  title 
indicated,  the  least  of  all  the 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


115 


the  many  wonderful  cures  performed  for  the  sick  by  St.  Francis  de 
Paula,  and  sent  for  him  to  come  to  him  at  Plessis-le-Tours,  where 
he  was  dying.  The  saint  felt  that  he  had  not  been  summoned  in 
the  right  spirit,  and  refused  to  go,  when  Louis  applied  to  Sixtus  IV. 
for  aid  in  the  matter.  At  the  command  of  the  pope,  Francis  went, 
and  he  was  received  at  Amboise,  by  the  dauphin  and  court,  with  all 
the  honors  possible.  When  he  arrived  at  the  castle,  the  king  knelt 
to  him,  and  prayed  him  to  obtain  from  God  the  return  of  health 
and  a  longer  life.  Francis  rebuked  him,  and  reminding  him  that 
God  alone  could  give  life  or  death,  and  that  submission  to  his  will 
was  man's  first  duty,  he  performed  for  him  the  last  offices  of  relig- 
ion. Francis  was  kept  in  France  by  Charles  YIII.  and  Louis 
XII.,  and  his  influence  was  very  great.  The  courtiers  gave  him 
the  title  of  "  Le  Bonhomme,"  in  derision  of  his  mode  of  life,  but 
this  became  the  title  of  his  Order  in  France,  where  his  disciples  be- 
came very  popular,  and  were  to  the  people  "  Les  Bons-hommes  "  in 
every  good  sense  of  the  term.  Francis  was  godfather  to  Francis  I., 
and  they  are  frequently  represented  together  in  pictures.  Before 
the  Revolution  the  effigies  of  Francis  de  Paula  were  very  common 
in  France.  His  tomb  was  broken  open  by  the  Huguenots  in  1562 
and  his  remains  burnt.  He  died  at  Plessis,  and  Louise  d'Angou- 
leme  prepared  his  winding-sheet  with  her  own  hands.  April  2,  A. 
B.  1507. 

St.  Francis  de  Sales.  This  saint  is  famous  for  his  religious 
and  devotional  writings,  which  are  held  in  great  esteem  by  Protes- 
tants as  well  as  by  those  of  his  own  church.  He  was  also  known 
as  very  charitable,  tolerant,  and  gentle  towards  those  who  disagreed 
with  him,  as  well  as  those  who  lived  lives  of  wickedness.  Wlien 
others  remonstrated  against  his  charitable  tenderness,  he  would  re- 
ply, "  Had  Saul  been  rejected,  should  we  have  had  St.  Paul  ?  "  He 
was  made  Bishop  of  Geneva  in  1602.  He  was  very  remarkable  for 
his  personal  beauty  and  the  almost  angelic  expression  of  his  face. 
January  29,  A.  d.  1622. 

St.  Francis  Xavier  was  a  Jesuit,  the  friend  and  disciple  of  Ig- 
natius Loyola,  and  was  sent  by  him  as  the  leader  of  a  band  of  mis- 
sionaries to  the  Indies.  He  was  of  an  illustrious  family,  and  was 
born  at  a  castle  in  the  Pyrenees.  He  studied  at  Paris.  When 
young  he  was  gay  and  enthusiastic  in  his  temperament,  and  it  was 
not  until  after  many  struggles  that  he  was  able  to  take  the  vov/  of 
obedience ;  but  having  once  done  so,  he  was  more  ardent  in  the  pur- 
suit of  his  duties  than  he  had  ever  been  in  seeking  the  accomplish- 
ment of  his  own  desires  and  ends.  He  v/as  thirty-five  years  old  when 
he  went  to  the  East,  and  most  of  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent 
in  Japan.  His  self-denial  and  sufferings  were  very  great,  and  yet 
he  always  wrote  of  happiness,  and  died  believing  that  he  had  done 
great  good.    He  conferred  the  rite  of  baptism  upon  an  almost  innu- 


116 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


merable  liost.  He  appointed  other  teachers  over  their  churches,  and 
saw  the  crucifix  erected  in  many  homes,  as  a  token  of  the  results  of 
his  labors,  and  of  the  conversion  of  the  heathen  to  the  religion  of 
Christ.  He  would  have  hailed  the  martyr's  death  with  joy,  but  his 
end,  though  a  painful  one,  was  not  brought  about  by  the  violence  of 
his  enemies.  He  attempted  to  go  to  China.  He  had  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  island  of  Sancian,  where  he  was  seized  with  fever  and 
died.  He  suffered  very  greatly  for  want  of  shelter  and  care.  He 
regretted  that  he  must  die  a  natural  death,  but  at  length  experienced 
a  willingness  to  depart  in  God's  way,  and  felt  that  his  desire  for 
martyrdom  was  sinful,  since  it  was  not  according  to  the  Divine  will. 
His  body  was  interred  near  the  shore,  where  there  is  still  a  cross  to 
mark  the  spot ;  but  his  remains  were  carried  to  Malacca  and  finally 
to  Goa,  where  a  magnificent  church  has  been  built  to  the  honor  of 
this  great  missionary  saint.    December  3,  A.  D.  1550. 

St.  Francis  Borgia  stands  as  the  third  among  the  saints  in  the 
Jesuit  Order.  He  belonged  to  a  family  most  illustrious  in  rank,  and 
equally  as  infamous  in  their  lives.  In  youth  he  was  surrounded  with 
all  that  would  seem  to  make  life  desirable  and  happy,  —  wealth,  sta- 
tion, and  power,  —  while  he  was  fondly  in  love  with  his  beautiful  wife, 
and  had  a  large  family  of  promising  children.  But  he  was  thought- 
ful and  melancholy,  and  cherished  in  his  heart  deep  religious  feeling. 
Circumstances  combined  to  strengthen  these  emotions.  His  friend, 
Garcilasso  de  la  Yega,  the  poet,  died ;  he  was  himself  more  than 
once  brought  near  to  death  by  severe  sicknesses.  At  length,  when 
the  Empress  Isabella  died,  it  was  his  duty  to  raise  the  winding-sheet 
from  her  face  at  the  moment  the  body  was  to  be  buried,  and  to 
swear  to  the  identity  of  the  remains.  He  did  so,  and  took  the  oath, 
and  at  the  same  moment  made  another  vow  to  forsake  the  service 
of  the  kings  of  earth,  and  from  that  hour  to  serve  only  the  King  of 
Heaven.  But  this  he  could  not  fulfill  literally  at  once.  He  was 
Governor  of  Catalonia,  and  administered  the  affairs  of  the  province 
with  great  care  and  faithfulness ;  but  through  the  acquaintance  of  a 
Jesuit  named  Aroas,  he  became  a  disciple  of  Loyola,  and  corresponded 
with  him.  His  wife  died,  and  he  then  resolved  that  after  providing 
for  his  children  in  the  best  manner,  he  would  renounce  the  world 
and  every  human  affection.  For  six  years  he  devoted  himself  to 
settling  his  affairs,  and  then  went  to  Rome,  and  became  an  humble 
Jesuit.  He  gave  all  his  life  and  energy  to  perfecting  the  system  of 
education  of  his  Order,  and  never  granted  his  approbation  to  the 
Inquisition.  For  seven  years  he  was  general  of  his  society,  being 
the  third  who  had  held  that  high  position.  He  died  at  Rome,  and 
was  buried  in  the  Gesu,  near  Loyola ;  but  his  grandson,  the  Cardi- 
nal Duke  of  Lerma,  removed  his  remains  to  Madrid.  October  10, 
A.  D.  1572. 

St.  Frediano  of  Lucca  {Lat.   Sanctus  Frigdianus).  This 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


117 


saint  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  He  was  made  Bishop  of  Lueca,  to 
which  place  he  had  gone,  in  560.  The  principal  occurrence  in  his 
life  which  is  represented  in  art,  is  his  turning  the  course  of  the  river 
Serchio,  when  it  threatened  to  deluge  Lucca.  This  he  did  by  draw- 
ing a  harrow  along  the  ground,  and  the  river  followed  the  course  he 
thus  marked  out.  His  whole  history  is  painted  in  a  church  at 
Lucca  called  by  his  name. 

St.  Gabriel  {Gr.  "Ay.  Ta/3pirj\ ;  Lat.  Sanctus  Gabriel ;  ItaL 
San  Gabriello,  San  Gabriele,  L'Angelo  Annunziatore ;  Fr,  St.  Ga- 
briel). This  saint,  whose  name  signifies  "  God  is  my  strength,"  is  the 
second  in  rank  among  the  archangels,  or  the  seven  who  stand  be- 
fore God.  (Rev.  viii.  2.)  His  name  is  mentioned  four  times  in 
the  Bible  (twice  in  Daniel,  viii.  16  and  ix.  21 ;  twice  in  Luke,  i.  19, 
26),  and  always  as  a  messenger,  bearing  important  tidings.  First  he 
announces  to  Daniel  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  their  captivity,  and 
then  makes  him  understand  the  vision  which  shows  forth  the  future 
of  the  nations.  Next  he  tells  Zacharias  of  the  child  that  should  be 
born  to  his  old  age,  and  lastly  he  comes  to  tell  the  mother  of  our 
Lord  that  she  is  the  one  highly 
favored  and  blessed  among  wom-  yf^ 


en.  These  four  authenticated 
acts  make  him  of  such  impor- 
tance as  to  command  our  deepest 
interest  in  all  relating  to  him ; 
and  in  addition  to  these  he  is 
believed  to  have  foretold  the 
birth  of  Samson,  and  that  of 
the  Virgin  Mary.  He  is  ven- 
erated as  the  angel  who  es- 
pecially watches  over  childbirth. 
The  Jews  believe  him  to  be  the 
"  chief  of  the  angelic  guards," 
and  the  keeper  of  the  celestial 
treasury.  The  Mohammedans 
regard  him  as  their  patron  saint, 
as  their  prophet  believed  him  to 


be  his  inspiring  and  instructing  f 


beautifully    represented.  The 


angel.  Thus  is  he  high  in  the 
regard  of  Jews,  Christians,  and 


the  followers  of  Islam.    It  is  as    '    I  /  % 


the  angel  of  the  Annunciation 
that  he  is  most  frequently  and 


spirit  in  which  these  pictures 
are  painted  has  changed  with 
the  belief  of  the  Romish  Church. 


Archangel  Gabriel. 


t 


118 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


In  the  earlier  ones  both  the  Angel  and  the  Virgin  are  standing,  and 
the  manner  of  the  Virgin  is  expressive  of  humility  and  of  reverence 
for  a  superior  being.  She  has  been  painted  as  kneehng.  But  after 
the  thirteenth  century,  she  becomes  the  one  to  be  exalted.  She  is 
from  this  time  the  Regina  angelorum ;  and  as  his  queen,  Gabriel  often 
kneels  before  her.  His  attributes  are,  —  the  lily  ;  a  scroll  inscribed 
"  Ave  Maria,  Gratia  Plena ; "  a  sceptre  and  sometimes  an  olive 
branch,  typical  of  the  "  peace  on  earth "  that  he  announced. 
March  18. 

St.  Gaudenzio  {Lat.  Sanctus  Gaudentius)  was  one  of  the  early 
bishops  of  Rimini.  His  effigy  is  found  on  its  coins.  He  was  scourged 
and  then  stoned  to  death  by  the  Arians.  He  is  patron  saint  of 
Rimini.    October  14,  a.  d.  359. 

St.  Gaudentius  of  Novara  was  the  bishop,  and  is  now  patron 
saint  of  that  city. 

St.  Geminianus  {Ital.  San  Geminiano).  This  saint  was  Bishop 
of  Modena  in  the  middle  of  the  fifth  century.  So  great  was  the 
fame  of  his  miracles  that  he  was  sent  for  to  go  to  Constantinople  to 
heal  the  daughter  of  the  emperor,  who  was  possessed  of  an  evil 
spirit.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  Princess  Honoria.  (See 
Gibbon,  35th  chapter.)  When  Modena  was  threatened  with  de- 
struction by  Attila,  King  of  the  Huns,  it  was  spared  on  account  of 
the  intercession  of  Geminianus ;  and  after  his  death  he  preserved 
the  Cathedral  from  destruction  by  a  flood.  He  is  represented  on 
the  coins  of  Modena,  and  worshipped  as  the  patron  saint  and  es- 
pecial protector  of  that  city. 

St.  Genevieve  of  Paris  (Eng.]  Ger.\  ltd.  Saint  Geno- 
veva).  This  saint  is  essentially  French,  and  one  of  very  great  im- 
portance and  interest  among  those  of  le  rnoyen  age.  The  village  of 
Nanterre  was  her  birthplace,  and  during  her  childhood  she  tended 
a  flock  of  sheep.  When  she  was  about  seven  years  old,  St.  Ger- 
main spent  a  night  at  Nanterre.  The  inhabitants  flocked  to  receive 
his  benediction.  When  his  eyes  rested  on  the  little  Genevieve,  he 
was  made  aware  by  inspiration  of  the  sanctity  of  her  character, 
and  the  glory  for  which  God  had  chosen  her.  He  talked  with  her ; 
and  with  a  manner  which  at  her  age  showed  her  to  be  the  especial 
child  of  God,  she  declared  her  wish  to  be  the  bride  of  Christ.  The 
bishop  hung  round  her  neck  a  coin  marked  with  the  cross,  and 
blessed  her  as  one  consecrated  to  God's  service.  From  this  time 
she  believed  herself  to  be  separated  from  all  worldly,  and  devoted 
to  all  heavenly  interests.  There  are  many  wonderful  stories  told  of 
her  childhood.  On  one  occasion,  her  mother  struck  her  in  a  fit  of 
anger.  She  was  struck  blind,  and  remained  so  for  twenty-one 
months,  when  Genevieve  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  above  the  wa- 
ter with  which  she  bathed  her  mother's  eyes,  and  her  sight  was 
restored.    Genevieve  remained  with  her  parents  during  their  lives, 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


119 


and  then  went  to  a  relative  in  Paris.  Although  she  did  not  enter 
a  convent,  she 
vowed  perpet- 
ual chastity  at 
fifteen  years  of 
age.  It  was 
many  years  he- 
fore  God  gave 
any  public  and 
u  n  m  i  s  t  a  k  a- 
ble  proof  of  his 
approbation  of 
Genevieve. 
During  this 
time,  while 
some  venerated 
her  for  the  holi- 
ness of  her  life, 
others  regarded 
her  as  a  pre- 
tender  and 
hypocrite.  She 
was  tormented 
too,  by  demons, 
who,  among 
other  things, 
constantly  blew 
out  the  tapers 
she  had  lighted 
for  her  nightly 
vigils.  But  she 
v^as  able  to  re- 
light   them    by  (Guerin.)    St.  Genevieve  of  Paris. 

faith  and  prayer.  At  length  Attila  threatened  the  destruction  of 
Paris,  and  the  people  in  their  alarm  would  have  fled  from  the  city  ;  but 
Genevieve  addressed  them,  begged  them  to  remain,  and  assured  them 
that  God  would  not  allow  this  pagan  to  overcome  his  followers. 
Immediately  the  news  was  brought  that  Attila  had  marched  away. 
And  again  when  Childeric  took  possession  of  Paris,  and  the  people 
suffered  from  want  of  food,  Genevieve  took  command  of  the  boats 
which  went  to  Troyes  for  aid,  —  a  tempest  arose,  which  was  calmed 
by  her  prayers,  and  the  provisions  they  had  received  brought  safely 
to  the  sufferers.  Childeric  respected  the  saint,  and  Clovis,  even  before 
he  thought  of  being  a  Christian,  venerated  Genevieve,  and  granted 
any  requests  she  made  of  him.  She  influenced  his  own  mind  and 
that  of  his  queen,  Clotilde,  so  that  the  first  Christian  church  was 


120 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


erected,  and  the  pagan  worship  forbidden  in  the  city  of  Paris.  It 
was  that  which  is  now  known  by  her  name.  Ever  after  the  miracu- 
lous manifestation  of  her  power  in  the  deliverance  of  Paris  from 
Attila,  her  prayers  were  sought  by  all  the  people,  whenever  they 
were  afflicted,  and  the  miracles  attributed  to  her  are  both  wonderful 
and  numerous.  One  of  these  was  the  staying  of  a  plague,  called 
the  mal  ardent.  Until  1747,  there  was  a  little  church  called  Ste. 
Genevieve  des  Ardents,  which  was  on  the  site  formerly  occupied  by 
the  house  of  the  saint.  She  was  eighty-nine  at  the  time  of  her 
death.  She  was  buried  beside  King  Clovis  and  his  wife.  St.  Eloy 
made  a  magnificent  shrine  for  the  remains  of  the  saint,  but  in  the 
Revolution  it  was  destroyed,  and  the  relics  burned  in  the  Place  de 
Greve.    January  3,  A.  d.  509. 

St.  Genevieve  of  Brabant.  The  story  of  this  saint  has  fur- 
nished the  subject  for  poems,  plays,  and  pictures  which  are  anything 
but  religious  in  their  character.  But  there  are  many  representa- 
tions in  art  of  her  romantic  life  and  sufferings.  She  was  the  wife 
of  Count  Siegfried,  who  was  led  by  his  steward  to  believe  her  to  be 
wanting  in  fidelity  to  himself  and  her  marriage  vows.  He  ordered 
her  to  be  executed,  but  those  charged  with  the  task  of  putting 
her  to  death,  left  her  alone  in  the  forest.  She  gave  birth  to  a  child, 
which  was  nursed  by  a  white  doe.  A  number  of  years  having 
passed,  her  husband,  while  hunting,  came  to  her  abode.  Explana- 
tions made  plain  her  innocence.  The  steward  was  really  put  to 
death,  while  the  wife  was  restored  to  her  home  and  happiness. 
There  is  a  picture  by  Albert  Durer,  which  is  sometimes  called  by 
the  name  of  Genevieve  of  Brabant,  but  it  is  in  truth  the  "  Penance 
of  St.  John  Chrysostom." 

St.  George  of  Cappadoeia  (Lat.  Sanctus  Georgius;  ItciL 
San  Giorgio ;  Fr.  Saint  Georges,  le  tres-loyal  Chevalier  de  la 
Chretiennete ;  Ger.  Der  Heilige  Jorg,  Georg,  or  Georgius).  The 
legend  of  this  saint,  as  most  generally  represented  in  art,  makes  him 
a  native  of  Cappadoeia.  His  parents  were  of  the  nobility,  and 
Christians.  He  was  a  tribune  in  the  army,  and  lived  in  the  time  of 
Diocletian.  There  is  a  disagreement  as  to  the  scene  of  his  most 
wonderful  conquest  of  the  dragon.  By  some  it  is  believed  to  have 
been  Selene  in  Libya ;  by  others,  Berytus  or  the  modern  Beyrout  of 
Syria ;  but  the  story  is  ever  the  same.  Being  on  his  way  to  join 
his  legion,  he  came  to  a  city  whose  inhabitants  were  in  great  terror 
on  account  of  a  terrible  dragon  who  lived  in  a  m.arsh  near  the  walls. 
This  fearful  monster  had  devoured  all  the  flocks  and  herds,  and  the 
people,  having  retired  into  the  city,  gave  him  daily  two  sheep  until 
all  they  had  were  gone.  Then,  in  order  to  prevent  his  approaching 
the  city,  they  commenced  to  send  out  daily  two  children  to  be 
devoured  by  this  insatiable  monster.  Terrible  as  this  was,  it  was 
better  than  that  he  should  come  near  them,  for  his  breath  poisoned 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


121 


the  air  for  a  great  distance  about  him,  and  all  who  breathed  it,  per- 
ished from  its  pestilential  effects.  The  children  were  chosen  by  lot, 
and  were  less  than  fifteen  years  old.  Now  the  king  had  a  daughter, 
named  Cleodolinda,  whom  he  loved  exceedingly.  At  length  the  lot 
fell  to  her.    The  king  offered  all  he  possessed,  even  to  the  half  of 


(Raphael — Louvre.)    St.  George  of  Cappadocia. 

the  kingdom,  that  she  might  be  spared ;  but  the  people  said  that  as 
it  was  by  his  own  edict  that  their  children  had  been  sacrificed,  there 
was  no  reason  for  allowing  him  to  withhold  his  own,  and  they 
threatened  to  take  the  princess  by  force,  if  she  was  not  delivered  to 
them.  Then  the  king  asked  that  she  might  be  spared  to  him  eight 
days  longer.    This  was  granted,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  Cleo- 


122 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


dolinda  went  forth  to  the  sacrifice,  clothed  in  her  royal  robes,  and 
declaring  herself  ready  and  willing  to  die  for  her  people.  She 
moved  slowly  towards  the  place  where  the  dragon  came  daily  for 
his  victims,  and  the  way  was  strewed  with  the  bones  of  those  who 
had  already  perished.  Just  then  St.  George  came  to  the  place ;  and 
seeing  her  tears,  he  stopped  to  learn  the  cause  of  her  sorrow.  When 
she  had  told  him,  he  said,  "  Fear  not,  for  I  will  deliver  you !  "  but 
she  replied,  O  noble  youth !  tarry  not  here,  lest  thou  perish  with 
me  !  but  fly,  I  beseech  thee  !  "  Then  St.  George  answered,  "  God 
forbid  that  I  should  fly  !  I  will  lift  my  hand  against  this  loathly 
thing,  and  will  deliver  thee  through  the  power  of  Jesus  Christ !  " 
Even  as  he  spoke,  the  dragon  approached  them.  Then  the  princess 
again  entreated  him,  "  Fly,  I  beseech  thee,  brave  knight,  and  leave 
me  here  to  die  !  "  But  St.  George,  making  the  sign  of  the  cross, 
rushed  to  combat  with  the  monster.  The  struggle  was  terrible,  but 
at  length  the  dragon  was  pinned  to  the  earth  by  the  lance  of  the 
brave  knight.  He  then  bound  the  dragon  with  the  girdle  of  the 
princess ;  and  giving  it  to  her,  she  was  able  to  lead  the  conquered 
beast  like  a  dog.  In  this  manner  they  approached  the  city.  The 
people  were  filled  with  fear ;  but  St.  George  cried  out,  "  Fear  noth- 
ing ;  only  believe  in  the  God  through  whose  might  I  have  conquered 
this  adversary,  and  be  baptized,  and  I  will  destroy  him  before  your 
eyes."  And  in  that  day  were  twenty  thousand  people  baptized. 
After  this  St.  George  slew  the  dragon  and  cut  off  his  head.  Then 
the  king  gave  him  great  treasures,  but  he  gave  all  to  the  poor,  keep- 
ing absolutely  nothing  for  himself ;  and  he  went  on  his  way  towards 
Palestine.  This  was  the  time  of  the  publication  of  the  edict  of 
Diocletian,  which  declared  the  persecution  against  the  Christians. 
All  who  read  it  were  filled  with  terror,  but  St.  George  tore  it  down 
and  trod  it  into  the  dust.  For  this  he  was  carried  before  the  pro- 
consul Dacian,  and  condemned  to  eight  days'  torture.  He  was  first 
bound  to  a  cross,  and  his  body  torn  with  sharp  nails ;  next  he  was 
burned  with  torches,  and  then  salt  rubbed  into  his  wounds.  Seeing 
that  all  these  horrible  and  devilish  cruelties  had  no  power  to  van- 
quish the  spirit  of  the  saint,  Dacian  sent  for  an  enchanter,  who 
invoked  the  aid  of  Satan,  and  then  poisoned  a  cup  of  wine  which 
St.  George  drank.  Before  doing  so,  however,  he  made  the  sign  of 
the  cross,  and  the  poison  had  no  effect  on  him.  The  magician  was 
converted  to  Christianity  by  this  miracle,  and,  upon  his  declaring 
the  fact,  was  immediately  beheaded.  St.  George  was  next  bound 
upon  a  wheel  filled  with  sharp  knives,  but  two  angels  descended 
from  heaven  and  broke  it  in  pieces.  They  then  put  him  in  boil- 
ing oil.  Believing  that  he  must  be  now  subdued,  he  was  taken  by 
the  judges  to  assist  at  the  sacrifices  in  the  heathen  temple.  Crowds 
came  to  witness  his  humiliation.  But  the  saint  knelt  down  and 
prayed,  and  instantly  there  came  thunder  and  lightnings  from  heaven. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


123 


The  temple  was  destroyed  ;  the  idols  were  crushed  ;  while  the  priests 
and  many  of  the  people  perished.  Now  at  last  Dacian  commanded 
him  to  be  beheaded.  He  met  death  with  joy  and  courage.  The 
story  of  St.  George  bears  great  resemblance  to  those  of  Apollo, 
Bellerophon,  and  Perseus,  while  the  destruction  of  the  temple  and 
his  persecutors  is  very  like  that  of  the  Philistines  when  they  called 
Samson  out  of  his  prison-house  to  make  sport  for  them.  The  Greeks 
give  St.  George  the  title  of  the  Great  Martyr,  and  his  worship 
is  very  ancient  in  the  East.  In  Europe  little  was  thought  of  him 
until  the  Crusades,  when  the  aid  he  gave  to  Godfrey  of  Boulogne 
established  his  fame  as  a  military  saint.  When  Richard  I.  made 
holy  war,  he  placed  his  army  under  the  protection  of  St.  George, 
and  from  this  time  he  has  been  patron  saint  of  England.  His  feast 
was  ordered  to  be  kept  through  all  England  in  1222,  and  the  Order 
of  the  Garter  was  instituted  in  1330.    April  23,  A.  d.  303. 

St.  Gereon,  one  of  the  commanders  of  the  Theban  legion. 
When  St.  Maurice  and  the  greater  part  of  the  legion  were  at 
Aganum  (now  St.  Maurice),  Gereon  with  his  command  reached 
Cologne.  Yerus,  the  prefect,  by  order  of  the  Emperor  Maximin 
commanded  them  to  renounce  Christianity.  Upon  their  refusal, 
Gereon  and  many  of  his  soldiers  were  put  to  death  and  thrown  into 
a  pit.  The  veneration  of  this  saint  extends  back  to  the  fourth  cen- 
tury, but  he  is  little  heard  of  outside  the  part  of  Germany  which 
was  the  scene  of  his  sufferings.  Many  of  the  representations  of  St. 
Gereon  are  in  sculpture,  and  upon  the  stained  glass  in  the  oldest  of 
the  German  churches. 

St.  Gervasius  and  St.  Protasius  {hat.  Gervasio  e  Protasio; 
Fr.  St.  Gervais  et  St.  Protais).  These  w^ere  twin  brothers  who  suf- 
fered martyrdom  in  the  time  of  Nero.  They  were  sent  bound  to 
Milan,  together  with  Nazarus  and  Celsus.  They  were  brought  to 
Count  Artesius,  who  bade  them  sacrifice  to  the  idols.  They  refused, 
and  Gervasius  was  condemned  to  be  beaten  to  death  with  scourges 
loaded  with  lead,  and  Protasius  to  be  beheaded.  A  man  named 
Philip  obtained  their  bodies  and  buried  them  in  his  garden,  where 
they  remained  until  the  place  of  their  burial  was  revealed  in  a  vis- 
ion to  St.  Ambrose.  It  happened  after  this  wise.  When  Ambrose 
founded  the  church  at  Milan  (a.  d.  387),  the  people  were  anxious 
that  it  should  be  consecrated  by  holy  relics.  While  Ambrose  was 
much  engaged  in  thought  of  this,  and  very  anxious  to  please  his 
people,  he  went  to  the  Church  of  St.  Nabor  and  Felix  to  pray ; 
while  there  a  trance  came  over  him,  and  in  it  he  beheld  St.  Paul  and  St. 
Peter,  and  with  them  were  two  young  men  clothed  in  white,  and  of 
wonderful  beauty.  It  was  revealed  to  Ambrose  that  these  were  two 
martyrs  who  had  been  buried  near  the  spot  where  he  was.  Assem- 
bling his  clergy,  he  made  search,  when  the  two  bodies  were  found. 
They  were  gigantic  in  size.    The  heads  were  separate  from  the 


124 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


bodies,  and  in  the  tomb  was  a  writing  which  told  their  story.  These 
sacred  relics  were  carried  in  procession  to  the  basilica,  and  those 
sick  ones  who  could  touch  them  as  they  passed  along  the  street, 
were  instantly  healed.  Among  these  was  a  man  named  Severus, 
who  had  been  many  years  blind.  As  he  touched  these  bones  his 
sight  was  restored.  This  miracle  was  seen  by  so  many  of  the  peo- 
ple, that  it  established  beyond  a  question  the  great  efficacy  of  these 
relics.  St.  Ambrose,  as  he  laid  them  beneath  the  altar,  blessed  God 
and  cried  out,  Let  the  victims  be  borne  in  triumph  to  the  place 
where  Christ  is  the  Sacrifice  :  He  upon  the  altar,  who  suffered  for 
all ;  they  beneath  the  altar  who  were  redeemed  by  his  suffering." 
The  enemies  of  Ambrose  accused  him  of  duplicity  in  this  matter, 
and  even  said  that  Severus  was  bribed  to  play  a  part,  but  the  au- 
thority of  the  father  was  sufficient  to  inspire  confidence  in  spite  of 
all,  and  the  church  was  dedicated  to  SS.  Gervasius  and  Protasius. 
Since  the  death  of  St.  Ambrose,  this  church,  which  is  one  of  the  most 
wonderful  and  famous  in  the  world,  is  called  "  Sant'  Ambrogio  Mag- 
giore."  The  veneration  of  these  saints  was  introduced  into  France, 
where  they  became  very  popular,  by  St.  Germain  in  560.  He  car- 
ried some  part  of  the  relics  to  Paris.    Many  cathedrals  and  parish 


churches  have  been  dedi- 
cated to  them.  It  would 
be  natural  to  expect  their 
pictures  to  represent  their 
vast  size,  but  this  is  not 
the  case.  There  are  few 
Italian  and  many  French 
paintings  of  them.  June 
19,  A.  D.  69. 


St.  Giles  {Gr.  "Ay. 
FtAAos  —  ;  Lat.  Sanctus 
iEgidius ;  Ital.  Sant'  Egi- 
dio  ;  Fr.  Saint  Gilles ;  Sp» 
San  Gil)  was  an  Athe- 
nian of  royal  blood.  Some 
miracles  which  he  per- 
formed, one  of  which  was 
throwing  his  mantle  over  a 
sick  man  and  thus  healing 
him,  had  gained  for  him  the 
venerationof  the  people.  St. 


,'Lucas  V.  Leyden.)   St.  Giles. 


^  Giles  left  his  country  and  be- 
)    came  a  hermit.  After  long 
wanderings,  he  came  to  a 
cave  in  a  forest  near  the 
mouth     of    the  Rhone, 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


125 


about  twelve  miles  south  of  Msmes.  Here  he  subsisted  upon  herbs 
and  wild  fruits,  and  the  milk  of  a  hind.  This  gave  rise  to  his  at- 
tribute of  a  wounded  hind,  for  it  came  to  pass,  that  as  a  party,  said 
hj  some  to  be  that  of  the  King  of  France,  and  by  others  the  King 
of  the  Goths,  were  hunting,  this  hind  was  pursued  by  the  dogs.  It 
fled  to  the  cave  and  nestled  in  the  arms  of  the  saint.  A 
hunter  sent  an  arrow  after  it,  and  when  they  came  to  look  in  the 
cave,  they  found  the  holy  man  wounded  by  the  arrow.  Their  sor- 
row was  great,  and  they  entreated  his  forgiveness,  even  on  their 
knees.  He  resisted  all  their  endeavors  to  draw  him  out  of  the  cave, 
and  there  he  soon  died.  Above  this  cave  was  built  a  magnificent 
monastery.  A  city  sprung  up  about  it  bearing  the  name  of  the  saint, 
and  the  counts  of  that  district  were  called  Comtes  de  Saint-Gilles. 
The  church  which  still  remains  upon  the  spot  is  an  extraordinary  rem- 
nant of  the  Middle  Ages.  It  is  covered  with  bas-reliefs  on  the  out- 
side, and  has  a  remarkable  staircase  in  the  interior.  Queen  Matilda 
dedicated  a  hospital,  which  she  founded  outside  of  London,  to  St.  Giles. 
This  was  in  1117,  and  the  name  now  belongs  to  an  extensive  parish. 
In  Edinburgh,  too,  the  parish  church  bore  his  name  in  1359.  He  is 
patron  saint  of  Edinburgh,  of  Juliers  in  Flanders,  and  of  the  wood- 
land everywhere.     September  1,  A.  D.  725. 

Glastonbury,  Abbey  of.  The  origin  of  this  famous  abbey  is 
lost  in  antiquity,  but  the  legend  connects  it  with  the  introduction  of 
Christianity  into  England.  The  wondrous  story  tells  that  when 
Philip,  who  was  one  of  the  twelve  Apostles,  came  to  France,  he  sent 
Joseph  of  Arimathea  with  his  son  and  eleven  other  disciples  to 
Britain.  King  Arviragus  so  admired  the  beauty  of  their  lives,  and  so 
appreciated  the  dangers  which  they  had  overcome  in  their  long  jour- 
ney from  Palestine,  that  he  gave  them  an  island  called  Avalon. 
Here  they  built  a  church  by  twining  wands,  and  consecrated  a  place 
of  burial.  They  limited  their  number  to  twelve,  and  lived  in  imita- 
tion of  the  Master  and  his  disciples.  By  their  preaching  many  Bri- 
tons were  converted.  It  is  a  wonderful  old  place.  It  is  here  King 
Alfred  found  a  refuge  from  his  Danish  foes.  Here  King  Arthur  was 
buried,  and  here  ever  bloomed  the  "  mystic  thorn  "  at  the  feast  of 
the  Nativity.  It  is  upon  the  strength  of  this  legend  that  the  kings 
of  England  have  claimed  precedence  of  the  kings  of  France  in  the 
religious  councils  of  Pisa,  Constance,  Siena,  and  Basle.  They  de- 
clared that  Joseph  of  Arimathea  came  to  England  in  the  fifteenth 
year  after  the  assumption  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  that  France  re- 
ceived not  the  religion  of  Christ  until  the  time  of  St.  Denis,  and  that 
for  this  reason  they  did  far  transcend  all  other  kings  in  worth  and 
honor,  so  much  as  Christians  were  more  excellent  than  Pagans.'* 

Godiva,  the  Countess,  was  the  wife  of  Leofric,  Earl  of  Murcia. 
Godiva  had  a  great  affection  for  Coventry,  and  often  entreated  her 
husband,  that  for  the  love  of  God  and  the  Blessed  Virgin  he  would 


126 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


free  that  place  from  the  servitude  to  which  it  was  subject.  Leofric 
was  not  willing  to  grant  a  request  which  so  ill  agreed  with  his  profit, 
and  forbade  her  speaking  again  of  the  subject.  But  she  again  made 
her  appeal,  when  he  said,  that  if  she  would  ride  on  horseback, 
naked,  from  one  end  of  the  town  to  the  other,  in  sight  of  all  the 
people,  her  wish  should  be  fulfilled.  And  she  replied,  "  But  will 
you  give  me  leave  so  to  do  ?  "  Then  when  he  answered,  "  Yes," 
she  appointed  a  certain  day,  and  rode  naked  through  the  toAvn 
with  her  hair  loose  about  her  which  concealed  all  her  body  save  her 
legs.  And  she  returned  with  joy  to  her  husband,  who  gave  the 
inhabitants  a  charter  of  freedom  on  account  of  this  deed  of  Lady 
Godiva.  It  is  said  that  the  countess  had  commanded  that  on  that 
day  and  hour  every  citizen  should  keep  within  his  house,  and  away 
from  the  window  on  pain  of  death.  But  one  person  could  not  con- 
trol his  curiosity,  and  it  cost  him  his  life.  From  this  circumstance 
arose  the  term  of  "  Peeping  Tom  of  Coventry,"  and  an  image  of 
him  was  long  preserved  there.  The  representations  of  Lady  Godiva 
are  quite  unmistakable. 
St.  Grata.    See  St.  Adelaide. 

St.  Gregory,  or  Gregory  The  Great  (Laf.  Sanctus  Greg- 
orius  Magnus  ;  Ital.  San  Gregorio  Magno  or  Papa ;  Fr.  St.  Gregoire ; 
Ger.  Der  Heilige  Gregor ;  signification,  watchman),  was  born  at 
Rome  in  540.  His  father,  Gordian,  was  a  senator.  His  mother, 
Sylvia,  was  a  woman  of  remarkable  character,  and  like  many  of  the 
mothers  of  that  time,  avIio  bore  sons  destined  to  act  a  great  part  in 
the  world,  she  had  a  vision  while  he  was  but  a  baby  in  her  arms,  in 
which  St.  Antony  revealed  to  her  that  this  son  should  be  the  head 
of  the  earthly  Church.  When  grown  he  studied  and  practiced  law, 
and  was  pra3tor  of  Rome  for  twelve  years.  His  character  was, 
however,  always  deeply  religious,  and  the  piety  of  his  mother 
seemed  to  have  descended  to,  and  been  intensified  in  the  son.  On 
the  death  of  his  father  he  devoted  his  wealth  to  religion  and  charity. 
He  made  his  home  on  the  Celian  Hill  a  hospital  and  monastery,  and 
dedicated  it  to  St.  Andrew.  He  then  took  a  cell  within  it,  and 
taking  the  habit  of  a  Benedictine,  devoted  himself  to  studies  which 
fitted  him  for  his  duties  in  later  life.  This  monastery  is  now  the 
Church  of  San  Gregorio.  When  a  fearful  plague  broke  out  in 
Rome,  Gregory  devoted  himself  to  the  nursing  of  the  sick.  One 
of  the  victims  of  the  pestilence  was  Pope  Pelagius.  The  people 
desired  to  have  Gregory  as  his  successor,  but  he  shrank  from  the 
office,  and  even  entreated  the  Emperor  not  to  assent  to  the  wishes 
of  the  people.  When  finally  his  election  was  confirmed,  he  hid 
himself  in  a  cave  away  from  Rome.  Those  who  sought  for  him 
were  led  by  a  celestial  light  about  the  place  where  he  was  hidden, 
and  he  was  brought  again  to  Rome.  He  soon  proved  that  the 
choice  of  the  people  had  been  a  wise  one.    He  was  the  most  humble 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


127 


of  men,  and  was  the  first  to  call  himself,  "  Servant  of  the  servants 
of  God."  He  introduced  many  reforms  into  the  Church,  and  showed 
a  spirit  of  toleration  and  charity  far  in  advance  of  his  time.  He 
disapproved  all  persecution  ;  he  restored  the  synagogues  of  Sardinia 
to  the  Jews,  from  whom  they  had  been  taken  ;  he  abolished  slavery, 
and  was  so  moved  at  the  sight  of  some  wretched  British  captives 
who  were  to  be  sold  in  Rome,  that  he  sent  missionaries  to  England. 
It  is  not  certain  that  the  belief  in  purgatory  originated  with  Gregory, 
but  he  first  preached  it.  He  also  instituted  the  celibacy  of  the 
clergy.  He  reformed  the  services  of  the  Church,  arranged  the 
garments  of  the  priests,  and  the  Roman  liturgy  has  ever  remained 
as  he  modeled  it.  The  chants  which  he  arranged  are  used  in  all 
churches,  and  have  ever  borne  his  name.  He  even  trained  the 
choristers.  He  felt  the  responsibilities  of  his  office  so  much  as  to 
consider  himself  literally  the  father  of  each  individual  of  the  Church, 
and  on  one  occasion,  he  fasted  and  interdicted  himself  from  any 
sacerdotal  function  for  several  days,  because  a  beggar  had  died  in 
the  streets  of  Rome.  His  charities  were  boundless.  When  a  monk, 
a  beggar  asked  alms  at  the  monastery,  and  receiving  something 
came  again  and  again  until  Gregory  had  nothing  to  give  him  but  a 
silver  porringer,  which  Sylvia  had  sent  to  her  son,  and  this  he  did 
not  withhold.  When  pope  he  had  twelve  poor  men  to  sup  with  him 
each  evening.  One  night  he  saw  thirteen  at  his  table,  and  calling 
his  steward,  he  demanded  the  reason  of  this.  The  steward  replied, 
after  counting,  "  Holy  Father,  there  are  surely  twelve  only  !  " 
-Gregory  said  no  more,  but  at  the  end  of  the  meal,  he  asked  the 
uninvited  one,  "  Who  art  thou  ?  "  and  he  said,  I  am  the  poor  man 
whom  thou  didst  formerly  relieve  ;  but  my  name  is  the  Wonderful, 
and  through  me  thou  shalt  obtain  whatever  thou  shalt  ask  of 
God."  Then  Gregory  believed  him  to  be  an  angel,  and  some  say, 
Christ  himself.  The  painting  of  this  legend  is  called  the  "  Supper 
of  St.  Gregory."  John  the  deacon,  who  was  his  secretary,  has  left 
an  account  in  which  he  declares  that  he  has  seen  the  Holy  Spirit 
seated  on  his  shoulder  in  the  shape  of  a  dove,  while  he  wrote.  This 
explains  why  the  dove  is  so  frequently  one  of  his  attributes.  "  The 
Mass  of  St.  Gregory,"  so  often  painted,  is  founded  upon  a  legend,  that 
as  the  saint  was  officiating  some  one  doubted  the  real  presence  in 
the  elements.  The  saint  prayed,  and  instantly  a  vision  was  revealed 
of  the  crucified  Saviour,  surrounded  with  all  the  instruments  of  his 
passion,  upon  the  altar. 

Another  painting  represents  the  miracle  of  the  Brandeum.  'The 
Empress  Constantia  sent  to  Gregory,  desiring  a  portion  of  the  relics 
of  SS.  Peter  and  Paul.  Gregory  replied  that  he  dared  not  disturb 
the  sacred  remains,  and  sent  her  the  Brandeum,  or  a  part  of  a  con- 
secrated cloth  which  had  enfolded  the  remains  of  St.  John  the 
Evangelist.     The  empress  disappointed,  rejected  this  gift  with 


128 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


scorn.  Then  Gregory,  wishing  to  show  that  it  was  not  so  much  the 
relics  themselves,  as  the  faith  of  the  believer  which  worked  the 
miracles,  placed  the  cloth  upon  the  altar,  and  after  praying,  pierced 
it  with  a  knife,  and  blood  flowed  from  it  as  from  a  living  body.  St. 
Gregory's  doctrine  of  purgatory  is  illustrated  in  the  legend  which 
recounts  the  manner  in  which  the  saint  released  Trajan  from  torment. 
It  is  said  that  on  one  occasion,  when  that  emperor  was  leading 
his  soldiers  to  battle,  he  was  stopped  by  a  poor  widow  who  threw 
herself  before  his  horse,  and  demanded  vengeance  for  the  death  of 
her  son,  who  had  been  killed  by  the  son  of  Trajan.  The  emperor 
promised  that  on  his  return  he  would  attend  to  her  request,  ^'  But 
Sire,"  replied  the  widow,  "  should  you  be  killed  in  battle,  who  then 
will  do  me  justice?"  —  "  My  successor,"  said  Trajan.  Then  she 
replied,  "  What  will  it  signify  to  you,  great  emperor,  that  any  other 
than  yourself  should  do  me  justice  ?  Is  it  not  better  that  you  should 
do  this  good  action  yourself  than  leave  another  to  do  it  ?  "  Then 
the  emperor  alighted,  and  listened  to  her  story,  and  finally  gave  his 
own  son  to  her,  and  bestowed  upon  her  a  large  dowry.  Now,  as 
Gregory  was  one  day  thinking  of  this  story  he  became  greatly 
troubled  at  the  thought  that  so  just  a  man  as  this  should  be  con- 
demned as  a  heathen  to  eternal  torments,  and  he  entered  a  church 
and  prayed  most  earnestly,  that  the  soul  of  the  emperor  might  be 
released  from  suffering.  While  still  at  prayer  he  heard  a  voice,  say- 
ing, "  I  have  granted  thy  prayer,  and  I  have  spared  the  soul  of 
Trajan  for  thy  sake  ;  but  because  thou  hast  supplicated  for  one 
whom  the  justice  of  God  had  already  condemned,  thou  shalt  choose 
one  of  two  things  :  either  thou  shalt  endure  for  two  days  the  fires  of 
purgatory,  or  thou  shalt  be  sick  and  infirm  for  the  rest  of  thy  life." 
This  is  given  as  the  explanation  of  the  great  weakness,  and  the 
many  infirmities  suffered  by  Gregory,  for  he  chose  the  sickness  in 
preference  to  the  two  days  of  purgatory.  The  last  two  years  he 
lived  he  was  not  able  to  leave  his  couch.  His  bed,  and  a  scourge 
with  which  he  kept  his  choristers  in  order,  are  still  preserved  in  the 
Church  of  the  Lateran.  Gregory  the  Great  was  the  last  pope  who 
has  been  canonized.    March  12,  a.  d.  604. 

St.  Gregory  Nazianzen  {Gr,  ''Ay.  Tprjyopio)  ^eoXoyos ;  Lat. 
Sanctus  Gregorius  Nazianzenus ;  Jtal.  San  Gregorio  Nazianzeno  ; 
Fr,  S.  Gregoire  de  Naziance ;  Ger.  S.  Gregor  von  Nazianz),  was 
born  about  328.  His  father,  St.  Gregory,  was  Bishop  of  Nazianus. 
St.  Nonna  was  his  mother,  and  St.  Gorgonia  and  St.  Cesarea  his 
sisters.  While  a  boy  he  had  a  dream,  which  in  a  great  measure 
influenced  all  his  course  in  life.  He  thought  there  came  to  him  two 
celestial  virgins  of  dazzling  beauty.  They  took  him  in  their  arms, 
and  kissed  him.  He  asked  who  they  were,  and  from  whence  they 
came  ?  and  one  said,  "  I  am  called  Chastity,  and  my  sister  here  is 
Temperance  ;  we  come  to  thee  from  Paradise,  where  we  stand  con- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


129 


tinually  before  the  throne  of  Christ,  and  taste  ineffable  delights  : 
come  to  us,  my  son,  and  dwell  with  us  forever.''  When  this  was 
said  they  flew  into  heaven.  He  stretched  out  his  arms  to  them,  and 
awoke.  This  dream  was  to  him  like  a  direct  command  from  God, 
and  he  took  vows  of  perpetual  continence  and  temperance.  He 
studied  in  Athens,  where  St.  Basil  and  Julian,  who  though  a  Cassar, 
is  only  known  as  the  Apostate,  were  his  fellow-students.  He  was 
not  baptized  until  almost  thirty  years  old.  He  devoted  himself  to 
religious  studies,  and  to  austerities  which  he  declared  were  ever 
most  repugnant  to  him.  But  if  they  have  any  virtue  it  must  have 
been  increased  by  this  fact.  He  was  ordained  the  coadjutor  of  his 
father,  and  succeeded  to  his  bishopric  in  362.  He  was  invited  to 
preacli  against  the  Arians  at  Constantinople.  The  disputes  ran 
very  high,  and  were  carried  on  by  all  classes,  and  even  by  the 
women,  who  argued  in  public  as  well  as  at  home.  Gregory  was 
small  in  stature,  and  every  way  insignificant  in  his  appearance.  At 
first  he  was  stoned  when  he  attempted  to  speak,  but  his  earnest 
eloquence  overcame  all  obstacles,  and  though  he  at  length  gave  up 
the  bishopric  of  Constantinople,  to  which  Theodosius  had  appointed 
him,  because  he  could  not  endure  the  contests  in  the  church,  yet  he 
had  gained  the  respect  of  enemies  and  the  confidence  of  friends. 
Leaving  Constantinople,  he  lived  »on  a  small  estate  of  his  father's 
in  great  strictness  and  self-denial.  St.  Gregory  Nazianzen  is  the 
earliest  Christian  poet  of  whom  we  have  any  knowledge.  In  his 
retirement  he  wrote  hymns  and  lyrics  which  express  all  the  strug- 
gles and  aspirations  of  his  naturally  intense  and  imaginative  nature. 
May  9,  A.  D.  390. 

St.  Gudula,  called  in  Flemish  Sinte-K,-Goelen,  and  in  Brabant 
St.  Goule  or  Ergoule.  The  patroness  of  the  city  of  Brussels.  She 
was  daughter  of  Count  Wittiger.  Her  mother  was  St.  Amalaberga, 
and  St.  Gertrude  of  Nivelle,  her  godmother.  She  was  educated 
by  the  latter.  There  are  many  miracles  told  of  her,  but  that  of  her 
lantern  is  the  one  best  known  and  oftenest  painted.  It  was  her  cus- 
tom to  go  to  the  church  of  Morselle  in  the  night,  to  pray.  It  was  a 
long  distance,  and  she  carried  a  lantern.  Satan  was  very  envious 
of  the  influence  she  gained  by  her  piety,  and  frequently  put  out  her 
light,  hopirg  that  she  might  be  misled.  Whenever  this  was  done, 
Gudula  immediately  relighted  it  by  her  prayers.  January  8  ;  about 
A.  D.  712. 

St.  Guthlac  of  Croyland.  The  legend  relates,  that  "  at  the 
time  of  his  birth  a  hand  of  ruddy  splendor  was  seen  extended  from 
Heaven  to  a  cross  which  stood  at  his  mother's  door."  Although 
this  was  thought  to  indicate  future  sanctity  in  the  child,  he  grew  up 
wild  and  reckless,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  organized  a  band  of 
robbers,  and  was  their  leader  ;  but  "  such  was  his  innate  goodness 
that  he  always  gave  back  a  third  part  of  the  spoil  to  those  whom  he 
9 


130 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


robbed."  He  lived  thus  eight  years,  v/hen  he  saw  the  sinfulness  of 
his  life,  and  the  remainder  of  it  was  devoted  to  penance  and  repent- 
ance. At  the  monastery  of  Repton  he  studied  the  lives  of  the  her- 
mits, and  learned  to  read.  He  went  at  length  to  a  wilderness,  where 
he  encountered  evil  spirits  as  numberless  as  those  which  tormented 
St.  Anthony.  St.  Bartholomew  was  the  chosen  saint  of  Guthlac, 
and  he  often  came  to  his  rescue  and  drove  the  demons  into  the  sea. 
The  place  of  his  retreat  was  a  marsh.  At  first  a  little  oratory  was 
built,  and  at  length  a  splendid  monastery  was  raised  on  piles,  and 
dedicated  to  St.  Bartholomew.    The  marshes  were  drained,  and 

labor  and  cultivation  changed 
the  appearance  of  the  place, 
and  put  to  flight  the  demoniac 
inhabitants  of  the  former  soli- 
tude. The  ruins  of  Croyland 
Abbey  cover  twenty  acres.  The 
country  is  again  neglected, 
and  an  unhealthy  marsh.  The 
remains  of  a  beautiful  statue, 
said  to  be  St.  Guthlac,  may 
still  be  seen.  St.  Pega,  the 
sister  of  St.  Guthlac,  gave  to 
the  monastery  the  whip  of  St. 
Bartholomew.  April  11,  A. 
D.  714. 

St.  Helena.  It  is  admitted 
by  all  authorities,  that  St.  He- 
lena was  born  in  England,  but 
the  exact  location  of  her  birth 
is  a  matter  of  dispute  and 
doubt.  She  married  Constan- 
tius  Chlorus,  ("the  Pale"), 
and  was  the  mother  of  Con- 
stantine  the  Great.  AVhen 
her  son  embraced  Christian- 
ity she  was  much  distressed, 
and  declared  that  it  would 
have  been  better  to  be  a  Jew 
than  a  Christian.  Wlien  she 
at  length  became  a  convert, 
her  wonderful  zeal,  and  the 
great  influence  she  had  over 
the  mind  of  her  son,  conduced 
to  the  rapid  growth  and  the 
strength  of  the  Church.  In 
326  she  made  a  journey  to 


(Boisseree  Gallery.) 
St.  Helena. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


131 


Palestine,  and  when  she  arrived  at  Jerusalem,  she  was  inspired 
with  a  strong  desire  to  discover  the  cross  upon  which  Christ  had* 
suffered.  The  temple  of  Venus  stood  upon  the  spot  supposed  to  be 
the  place  of  the  crucifixion.  She  ordered  this  to  be  taken  down, 
and  after  digging  very  deep,  three  crosses  were  found.  There  are 
two  accounts  given  of  the  manner  in  which  the  true  cross  was  se- 
lected. Some  say  they  were  all  applied  to  a  sick  person.  The  first 
two  without  effect,  while  the  third  caused  an  instantaneous  cure. 
Others  say,  that  they  were  carried  to  a  dead  person,  and  that  at  the 
application  of  the  third,  life  was  restored.  Constantine  erected  a 
basilica  upon  the  spot  where  the  crosses  were  found,  and  it  was  con- 
secrated September  13,  A.  d.  335.  The  following  day  was  Sunday, 
and  the  Holy  Cross  was  elevated  on  high  for  the  veneration  of  the 
people.  It  is  with  the  "  Invention  of  the  True  Cross,"  as  it  is  called, 
that  St.  Helena  is  most  frequently  considered ;  but  she  did  many 
other  things  which  either  in  themselves  or  their  effects  still  speak  of 
her  active  zeal  for  the  Church.  The  Church  of  the  Nativity  at 
Bethlehem  was  erected  by  her  in  327,  and  is  the  oldest  church 
edifice  in  the  world.    August  18,  a.  d.  327. 

Heliodorus.  This  apocryphal  legend  is  found  in  the  third 
chapter  of  the  second  book  of  Maccabees.  It  is  frequently  ilkis- 
trated  in  art,  and  is  as  follows.  When  Onias  was  high-priest  at 
Jerusalem  and  all  was  prosperous  there,  a  certain  Simon,  governor 
of  the  temple,  became  disaffected  toward  Onias  on  account  of  some 
trouble  in  the  city.  So  he  went  to  Apollonius,  the  governor  of 
Coele- Syria,  and  told  him  "  that  the  treasury  in  Jerusalem  was  full 
of  infinite  sums  of  money,  so  that  the  multitude  of  their  riches, 
which  did  not  pertain  to  the  account  of  the  sacrifices,  was  innumer- 
able, and  that  it  was  possible  to  bring  all  into  the  king's  hand." 
When  Apollonius  told  this  to  the  king  he  sent  his  treasurer  Heliodo- 
rus,  with  commands  to  bring  to  him  this  money.  When  Heliodo- 
rus  came  to  Jerusalem,  he  was  courteously  received  by  Onias ;  and 
when  he  told  him  what  they  had  heard,  and  demanded  if  it  was  true 
that  so  much  money  was  there,  the  high-priest  told  him  that  much 
money  was  indeed  there,  but  that  it  was  laid  up  for  the  relief  of 
widows  and  orphans.  Some  of  it  belonged  to  Hircanus  the  son  of 
Tobias,  and  it  did  not  in  truth  belong  to  the  treasury  as  the  wicked 
Simon  had  said.  Onias  said  that  the  sum  was  four  hundred  talents 
of  silver  and  about  two  hundred  talents  of  gold,  and  "  that  it  was 
altogether  impossible  that  such  wrong  should  be  done  unto  them 
that  had  committed  it  to  the  holiness  of  the  place,  and  to  the 
majesty  and  inviolable  sanctity  of  the  temple,  honored  all  over  the 
world."  But  Heliodorus  said  that  the  king  had  given  him  com- 
mands, that  in  any  wise  it  should  be  brought  into  the  treasury.  So 
a  day  was  set  when  he  should  receive  the  treasure.  Now  the 
whole  city  was  in  agony,  and  the  priests  prostrated  themselves  be- 


132 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


fore  the  altars  and  entreated  God  that  this  should  not  be  allowed, 
•and  called  unto  Him  that  the  law  which  he  had  made  should  be 
kept,  and  the  money  preserved  for  those  who  had  committed  it  to 
their  care.  "  Then  whoso  had  looked  the  high-priest  in  the  face,  it 
would  have  wounded  his  heart ;  for  his  countenance  and  the  chang- 
ing of  his  color  declared  the  inward  agony  of  his  mind.  For  the 
man  was  so  compassed  with  fear  and  horror  of  the  body,  that  it 
was  manifest  to  them  that  looked  upon  him  what  sorrow  he  had  now 
in  his  heart.  Others  ran  flocking  out  of  their  houses  to  the  general 
supplication,  because  the  place  was  like  to  come  into  contempt. 
And  the  women  girt  with  sackcloth  under  their  breasts,  abounded 
in  the  streets,  and  the  virgins  that  were  kept  in,  ran,  some  to  the 
gates,  and  some  to  the  walls,  and  others  looked  out  of  the  windows. 
And  all  holding  their  hands  toward  heaven  made  supplication. 
Then  it  would  have  pitied  a  man  to  see  the  falling  down  of  the 
multitude  of  all  sorts,  and  the  fear  of  the  high-priest  being  in  such 
an  agony.  But  in  spite  of  all,  Heliodorus  went  to  the  temple  to 
execute  his  intentions.  Now  as  he  was  there  present  himself  with 
his  guards  about  the  treasury,  the  Lord  of  spirits,  and  the  Prince  of 
all  jDOwer  caused  a  great  apparition,  so  that  all  that  presumed  to 
come  in  with  him  were  astonished  at  the  power  of  God,  and  fainted 
and  were  sore  afraid.  For  there  appeared  unto  them  an  horse  with 
a  terrible  rider  upon  him,  and  adorned  with  a  very  fair  covering, 
and  he  ran  fiercely,  and  smote  at  Heliodorus  with  his  fore  feet,  and 
it  seemed  that  he  that  sat  upon  the  horse  had  complete  harness  of 
gold.  Moreover,  two  other  young  men  appeared  before  him,  nota- 
ble in  strength,  excellent  in  beauty,  and  comely  in  apparel,  who 
stood  by  him  on  either  side,  and  scourged  him  continually,  and  gave 
him  many  sore  stripes.  And  Heliodorus  fell  suddenly  unto  the 
ground,  and  was  compassed  with  great  darkness  :  but  they  that 
were  with  him  took  him  up,  and  put  him  into  a  litter.  Thus  him, 
that  lately  came  with  a  great  train  and  with  all  his  guard  into  the 
said  treasury,  they  carried  out,  being  unable  to  help  himself  with 
his  weapons  :  and  manifestly  they  acknowledged  the  power  of  God. 
For  he  by  the  hand  of  God  was  cast  down  and  lay  speechless  with- 
out all  hope  of  life.  But  they  praised  the  Lord  that  had  miracu- 
lously honored  his  own  place  ;  for  the  temple  which  a  little  afore 
was  full  of  fear  and  trouble,  when  the  almighty  Lord  appeared,  was 
filled  with  joy  and  gladness.  Then  straightways  certain  of  Heliodo- 
rus' friends  prayed  Onias,  that  he  would  call  upon  the  Most  High 
to  grant  him  his  life,  who  lay  ready  to  give  up  the  ghost.  So  the 
high-priest,  suspecting  lest  the  king  should  misconceive  that  some 
treachery  had  been  done  to  Heliodorus  by  the  Jews,  offered  a  sacri- 
fice for  the  health  of  the  man.  Now  as  the  high-priest  was  making 
an  atonement,  the  same  young  men  in  the  same  clothing,  appeared 
and  stood  beside  Heliodorus,  saying,  '  Give  Onias,  the  high-priest, 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


133 


great  thanks,  insomuch  that  for  his  sake  the  Lord  hath  granttd 
thee  Kfe.  And  seeing  that  thou  hast  been  scourged  from  heaven, 
declare  unto  all  men  the  mighty  power  of  God.'  And  when  they 
had  spoken  these  words,  they  aj^peared  no  more.  So  Heliodorus, 
after  he  had  offered  sacrifice  unto  the  Lord,  and  made  great  vows 
unto  him  that  had  saved  his  life,  and  saluted  Onias,  returned  with 
his  host  to  the  king.  Then  testified  he  to  all  men  the  works  of  the 
great  God,  which  he  had  seen  with  his  eyes.  And  when  the  king 
asked  Heliodorus  who  might  be  a  fit  man  to  be  sent  yet  once 
again  to  Jerusalem,  he  said,  '  If  thou  hast  any  enemy  or  traitor, 
send  him  thither,  and  thou  shalt  receive  him  well  scourged,  if  he  es- 
cape with  his  life  ;  for  in  that  place,  no  doubt  there  is  an  especial 
power  of  God.  For  He  that  dwelleth  in  heaven  hath  his  eye  on 
that  place  and  defendeth  it,  and  he  beateth  and  destroyeth  them 
that  come  to  hurt  it.'  And  the  things  concerning  Heliodorus,  and 
the  keeping  of  the  treasury  fell  out  on  this  sort." 

St.  Henry  of  Bavaria 
was  born  in  972.  He  mar- 
ried Cunegunda,  daughter  of 
Siegfried,  Count  of  Luxem- 
bourg. Both  are  saints,  and 
both  obtained  that  glory  by 
their  perfect  and  entire  devo- 
tion to  the  Church.  This 
was  so  marked  a  feature  of 
Henry's  character  and  reign 
that  it  caused  a  revolt  among 
the  princes  of  his  empire,  as 
they  thought  he  had  no  right 
to  lavish  so  much  treasure 
for  the  purposes  of  the 
Church.  Henry  was  no  less 
a  soldier  than  a  devotee,  and 
after  defeating  the  seditious 
nobles,  he  restored  to  them 
their  possessions  and  treated 
them  as  if  nothing  had  oc- 
curred. When  he  went  to 
war  to  subject  and  convert 
Poland  and  Sclavonia,  he  put 
himself  and  his  army  under 
the  protection  of  SS.  Lau- 
rence, George,  and  Adrian. 
He  girded  on  the  sword  of  the 
latter,  which  had  long  been 
preserved  in  Walbeck  Church. 
The  leo;end  teaches  that  the 


(I.  V.  Melem.) 
St.  Henry. 


134 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


three  saints  were  visible,  fighting  by  the  side  of  Henry,  and  th.^t 
through  their  aid  he  conquered.  The  Church  of  Merseberg  was 
built  to  commemorate  this  victory.  He  also  fought  in  Italy  and 
drove  the  Saracens  from  Apulia.  Henry  had  an  especial  venera- 
tion for  the  Virgin,  and  when  on  his  expeditions,  upon  entering  a 
place,  always  repaired  first  to  some  church  or  shrine  dedica,ted  to 


St.  Cunegunda  tested  by  the  Ordeal. 


her.  On  one  occasion  at  Verdun,  he  was  seized  with  such  a  disgust 
and  weariness  of  his  imperial  life  and  duties  that  he  desired  to  be- 
come a  monk.  The  prior  told  him  his  first  duty  would  be  that  of 
obedience,  and  when  Henry  declared  himself  ready  to  obey,  he 
made  it  his  command  that  the  emperor  should  retain  his  office  and 
discharge  his  duties.  Henry  and  Cunegunda  together  founded  and 
richly  endowed  the  cathedral  and  convent  of  Bamberg  in  Fran- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


135 


conia,  as  well  as  many  other  religious  edifices  in  Germany,  and 
also  in  Italy.  After  they  had  been  united  several  years,  during 
which  time,  by  mutual  consent,  they  lived  in  the  strictest  continence, 
Cunegunda  was  suspected  of  unfaithfulness  to  her  husband.  Henry 
believed  in  the  purity  of  his  wife,  and  she  would  have  looked  upon 
these  reports  as  trials  sent  from  Heaven  to  test  her  patience,  but 
she  felt  that  her  position  demanded  her  justification,  and  she  asked 
to  be  allowed  the  trial  by  ordeal.  She  walked  over  burning  plough- 
shares uninjured.  Henry  tried  to  make  amends  to  her  by  showing 
her  the  greatest  respect  and  tenderness,  but  she  preferred  to  retire 
to  the  cloister;  to  which  he  consented.  Henry  died  in  1024,  and 
was  buried  in  the  Cathedral  of  Bamberg.  His  wife  then  took  the 
Benedictine  habit,  and  led  a  life  of  incessant  prayer  and  labor, 
working  with  her  hands  for  the  poor  and  sick.  She  died  in  1040, 
and  was  interred  by  the  side  of  Henry.  Festival  of  Henry,  July 
14.  Cunegunda,  March  3.  For  St.  Henry,  see  also  St.  Lau- 
rence. 

St.  Herman-Joseph  was  a  native  of  Cologne.  His  mother 
was  very  poor,  but  brought  up  her  son  piously.  It  was  his  custom 
each  day,  when  on  his  way  to  school,  to  go  to  the  Church  of  St. 
Mary,  and  repeat  his  prayers  before  the  image  of  Our  Lady.  One 
day  when  an  apple  was  all  he  had  for  his  dinner  he  offered  it  hum- 
bly to  the  Virgin,  and  the  legend  says  that  this  so  pleased  "  Our 
Blessed  Lady,  that  she  put  forth  her  hand  and  took  the  apple  and 
gave  it  to  our  Lord  Jesus,  who  sat  upon  her  knee  :  and  both 
smiled  upon  Herman."  When  still  young,  Herman  took  the  habit 
of  the  Premonstratensians.  He  had  many  beautiful  visions,  in  one 
of  which  the  Virgin  descended  from  heaven,  and  putting  a  ring  on 
his  finger,  called  him  her  espoused.  From  this  vision  he  acquired 
the  additional  name  of  Joseph.    April  7,  a.  d.  1236. 

St.  Hermengildus  was  the  son  of  King  Leovigild,  and  during 
the  contest  between  the  Catholics  and  Arians,  he  was  put  to  death 
by  his  faflier  for  relinquishing  the  Arian  faith.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  famous  Spanish  martyrs.  The  chef-d'oeuvre  of  Herrera  is  the 
apotheosis  of  this  saint.  He  is  carried  into  glory,  while  St.  Isidore 
and  St.  Leander  stand  on  each  side,  and  the  young  son  of  Hermen- 
gildus gazes  upwards  as  his  father  is  borne  to  heaven.  The  saint 
holds  a  cross,  and  wears  a  cuirass  of  blue  steel  and  a  scarlet  man- 
tle.    April  13,  A.  D.  586. 

St.  Hilarion.    See  St.  Donato  of  Arezzo. 

St.  Hilary  (^Jtal.  Sant'  Ilario;  Fr,  Saint  Hilaire),  was  Bishop  of 
Poitiers.  Although  French,  he  is  greatly  reverenced  in  Italy,  and 
is  one  of  the  patrons  of  Parma,  where  it  is  said  a  part  of  his  relics 
repose.    January  14,  A.  b,  363. 

St.  Hilda,  of  Whitby,  was  the  great  grand-daughter  of  King 
Edwin.     She  was  abbess  of  Whitby,  and  celebrated  for  her  piety 


136 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


and  learning  and  the  excellent  training  which  she  gave  all  under 
her  charge.  Six  bishops  were  elected  out  of  her  convent.  She 
presided  at  a  council  held  at  her  monastery.  She  was  bitterly  op- 
posed to  the  observance  of  Easter  according  to  the  ritual  of  the 
Komish  church,  to  the  tonsure  of  priests,  and  to  the  extension  of 
the  papal  jurisdiction  to  England.  These  questions  vfere  dis- 
cussed at  the  said  council  and  decided  against  her,  to  which  decision 
she  yielded.  Her  wisdom  was  so  great  that  kings  and  princes 
sought  her  guidance.  She  was  adored  by  the  people,  and  many 
wonderful  miracles  are  attributed  to  her.  Fossils  having  the  shape 
of  coiled  serpents  have  been  found  which  were  believed  to  have 
been  venomous  reptiles  changed  by  the  prayers  of  St.  Hilda.  Bede 
thus  tells  of  her  death,  And  in  the  year  of  the  incarnation  of  Our 
Lord,  680,  on  the  17th  of  November,  the  abbess  Hilda,  having  suf- 
fered under  an  infirmity  for  seven  years,  and  performed  many  heav- 
enly works  on  earth,  died,  and  was  carried  into  Paradise  by  the 
angels,  as  was  beheld  in  a  vision  by  one  of  her  own  nuns,  then  at  a 
distance,  on  the  same  night :  the  name  of  this  nun  w^as  then  Bega  ; 
but  she  afterwards  became  famous  under  the  name  of  St.  Bees." 
November  18,  A.  D.  680. 

St.  Hyppolytus  {ltd.  Sant'  Ippolito ;  Fr.  Saint  Hyppolyte ; 
Gr,  "Ay.  'iTTTToAuro?  :  signification,  "  one  who  is  destroyed  by 
horses,"  of  which  animal  this  saint  is  the  patron).  There  is 
great  obscurity  in  the  legends  of  Hyppolytus.  He  was  a  Boman 
soldier  and  was  appointed  a  guard  over  St.  Laurence.  He  became 
a  Christian  from  the  influence  of  his  prisoner,  and  liis  entire  family 
were  also  converted.  After  the  fearful  martyrdom  of  St.  Laurence, 
Hippolytus  took  the  body  and  buried  it.  On  account  of  this  he  was 
accused  of  being  a  Christian,  which  he  denied  not,  but  declared 
himself  ready  to  meet  any  death,  rather  than  deny  his  Saviour. 
He  saw  nineteen  of  his  family  suffer  death,  among  whom  was  his 
aged  nurse,  Concordia,  who  was  so  bold  in  declaring  her  faith  that 
she  was  scourged  to  death,  while  the  others  were  behead?d.  Hyp- 
polytus was  tied  to  the  tails  of  wild  horses,  and  thus  torn  to  pieces. 
The  Brescians  claim  that  his  relics  repose  in  the  convent  of  Santa 
Giulia.  The  legends  also  say  that  in  the  eighth  century  his  re- 
mains were  carried  from  Bome  to  the  Church  of  St.  Denis,  and  on 
this  account  he  is  a  popular  saint  in  France.    August  13,  A.  D.  258. 

Holof ernes.    See  Judith. 

St.  Hubert  of  Liege  was  a  very  gay  nobleman.  He  was  of 
Aquitaine,  and  lived  at  the  court  of  Pepin  d'Heristal.  He  partici- 
pated in  all  the  pleasures  of  the  court,  but  was  especially  fond  of  the 
chase,  and  even  hunted  on  the  days  appointed  by  the  Church  for 
fasting  and  prayer.  As  he  hunted  in  the  forest  of  Ardennes  one 
day  in  Holy  Week,  there  came  to  him  a  milk-white  stag,  with  a 
crucifix  between  his  horns.    Hubert  was  overcome  with  awe*and  sur- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


137 


prise.  He  became  sensible  of  the  wickedness  of  his  life,  and  lived 
a  hermit  in  the  very  forest 
where  he  had  so  often  sought 
his  amusement.  There  were 
bands  of  robbers,  and  large 
numbers  of  idolaters  in  and 
around  the  forest  of  Ardennes, 
and  to  them  St.  Hubert  preached 
Christianity,  and  also  introduced 
social  reforms  and  civilization 
among  them.  At  length  he 
studied  with  St.  Lambert,  and 
became  a  priest.  He  was  after- 
wards bishop  of  Liege.  He 
requested  that  he  might  be 
buried  in  the  Church  of  St.  Peter 
at  Liege.  Thirteen  years  after 
his  death  his  remains  were  found 
to  be  perfect,  and  his  robes  un- 
stained. The  Benedictines  of 
Ardennes  desired  to  have  his 
body,  and  it  was  removed  to 
their  Abbey  church  about  a 
century  after  his  death.  St.  Hu- 
bert is  patron  of  the  chase  and 
of  dogs,  and  chapels  are  erected 
to  him  in  the  forests  where  the 
devout  huntsman  may  pray. 
Bread  consecrated  at  his  shrine 
is  believed  to  cure  hydrophobia. 
November  3,  a.  d.  727. 

St.  Hugh  of  Grenoble.  This  saint  was  Bishop  of  Grenoble 
at  the  time  when  St.  Bruno  founded  the  first  Chartreuse.  Hugh 
ofcen  retired  to  the  monastery,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  life  of 
the  most  humble  and  penitent  brother.  One  of  the  miracles  related 
as  being  performed  by  him  is  the  changing  of  fowls  into  tortoises, 
when  his  Carthusian  brethren  could  eat  no  flesh  and  could  obtain  no 
fish.  It  is  said  that  Satan  tempted  Hugh  forty  years,  by  whi-^pering 
continually  in  his  ear  doubts  of  God's  Providence,  on  account  of  his 
permitting  sin  in  the  world.  The  saint  fasted  and  did  penance  con- 
tinually on  account  of  this  temptation,  and  it  never  obtained  domin- 
ion over  him  sufficiently  to  weaken  his  faith  in  God.  April  1,  a.  d. 
1132. 

St.  Hugh,  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  was  also  a  Carthusian.  He  was 
sent  to  England  in  1126,  and  made  Bishop  of  Lincoln.  The  cathe- 
dral, which  had  been  destroyed  by  an  earthquake,  was  rebuilt  by  St. 


(Wilhelm  von  Koln,  1380.)    St.  Hubert. 


138 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


Hugh.  It  is  a  fine  specimen  of  the  best  Gothic  architecture.  Of  all  the 

munificent  gifts  of  its 
founder,  the  only  one 
remaining  is  the  glass 
in  one  window,  which 
is  painted  with  scenes 
from  his  life.  His 
proper  attribute  is  a 
swan,  typical  of  soli- 
tude, which  was  his 
delight.  November 
17,  A.  D.  1189. 

St.  Hugh,  Mar- 
tyr. The  legend  con- 
nected with  this  mar- 
tyr is  one  of  the  latest 
of  the  monkish  fables, 
and  relates  that  this 
child,  who  is  repre- 
sented as  about  three 
years  old,  was  stolen 
by  the  Jews  and 
crucified  by  them  in 
ridicule  of  the  Saviour 
of  the  Christians,  and 
in  revenge  for  the 
cruelties  which  the 
Jews  suffered  in  Chris- 
tian countries.  There 
are  three  other  saints 
who  have  been  canon- 
ized on  account  of 
having  suffered  the 
same  martyrdom  :  St. 
St.  Richard  of  Pontoise,  a.  d. 
1472.    The  date  of  St.  Huo-h's 


St. 


(Boisseree  Gallery.) 
Hugh  presenting  a  votary. 


William  of  Norwich,  a.  d.  1137  ; 
1182  ;  and  St.  Simon  of  Trent,  A.  d. 
death  is  in  1255,  August  27. 

St.  Hyacinth  belonged  to  the  family  of  the  Aldrovanski,  one  of 
the  most  noble  in  Silesia.  He  was  educated  in  Bologna,  and  was 
distinguished  not  only  for  his  intellectual  superiority,  but  for  his 
piety,  and  his  prudence  and  judgment  in  everything  he  attempted  to 
do.  Soon  after  the  completion  of  his  studies,  with  his  cousin 
Ceslas,  he  accompanied  his  uncle  Ivo,  who  was  Bishop  of  Cracow,  to 
Rome.  There  they  listened  to  the  preaching  of  St.  Dominick, 
which  so  moved  the  heart  of  Ivo  that  he  besought  the  saint  to  send 
one  of  his  Order  on  a  mission  to  his  far-off"  and  half  heathen  coun- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


139 


try.  But  Dominick  had  no  disciple  to  send,  as  all  were  engaged 
elsewhere.  Then  the  young  Hyacinth  declared  his  intention  to 
become  a  monk,  and  to  preach  to  his  ignorant  and  barbaric  country- 
men. Ceslas  joined  him,  and  they  took  the  vows  and  the  habit  of 
the  Dominicans  in  the  Church  of  St.  Sabina  at  Rome.  For  forty 
years  Hyacinth  travelled  and  preached  in  all  the  northern  countries. 
It  is  said  that  his  wanderings  extended  from  Scotland  to  the  Chinese 
boundaries.  He  founded  various  monasteries,  and  it  is  related  of 
him  that  his  convent  in  Kiov  in  Russia,  being  sacked,  he  escaped 
bearing  the  Pyx  and  the  image  of  the  Virgin,  whi(!h  he  had  taken 
from  the  altar.  He  reached  the  banks  of  the  Dniester,  pursued  by 
the  Tartars.  The  river  was  much  swollen,  but  being  determined  to 
preserve  the  precious  objects  from  desecration  by  the  pagans,  he 
prayed  to  Heaven,  and  plunged  into  the  river.  The  waters  sus- 
tained him,  and  he  walked  over  as  on  dry  land.  He  died  at  his 
monastery  in  Cracow,  to  which  he  returned  worn  out  by  his  labors 
and  exposures.  Anne  of  Austria,  after  her  marriage,  requested  the 
King  of  Poland  to  send  her  some  relics  of  St.  Hyacinth.  This  he 
did,  and  they  were  placed  in  the  Dominican  Convent  at  Paris. 
From  this  time  the  saint  became  an  object  of  veneration  in  France, 
where  many  pictures  of  him  are  seen.     September  11,  A.  d.  1257. 

St.  Ignatius  of  Antioch  {Lat.  Sanctus  Ignatius ;  Ital  Sant' 
Ignazio ;  Fr.  Saint  Ignace :  Ger,  Der  Heilige  Ignaz.  His  Greek 
title  is  Oeocj^opo^  (inspired)).  Tradition  teaches  that  Ignatius  is  the 
same,  whom  Jesus  presented,  when  a  child,  to  his  disciples,  with  the 
words,  "  Whosoever  shall  receive  one  of  such  children  in  my  name, 
receiveth  me."  He  was  a  disciple  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  and 
the  dear  friend  of  Polycarp.  It  is  also  said  that  on  account  of  his 
perfect  purity  of  thought  and  life,  he  was  permitted  to  hear  the 
music  of  the  angels,  and  that  from  the  angelic  choirs  he  learned  the 
singing  of  God's  praises  in  responses,  which  he  introduced  into  his 
church  after  he  was  Bishop  of  Antiocli.  The  Emperor  Trajan,  after 
one  of  his  victories,  commanded  sacrifices  to  the  gods  in  every  prov- 
ince of  his  empire.  The  Christians  refused  to  obey.  Trajan  came 
to  Antioch,  and  sending  for  Ignatius  charged  him  with  the  perversion 
of  the  hearts  of  his  people,  and  promised  him  great  favors  if  he 
would  sacrifice  in  a  pagan  temple.  But  Ignatius  scornfully  refused, 
and  said  he  would  worship  only  the  true  and  living  God.  Then 
Trajan  asked  how  he  could  call  Him  living  who  had  died  upon  a 
cross.  Bat  Ignatius  spurned  the  idea  of  any  God  but  the  Lord,  and 
Trajan  commanded  him  to  be  imprisoned,  and  reserved  for  the 
amphitheatre  at  Rome.  Ignatius  rejoiced  in  his  sentence,  and  set 
out  on  his  journey  with  great  courage.  At  Smyrna  he  saw  Polycarp 
and  other  Christians,  whom  he  encouraged  to  labor  for  the  church, 
and  if  need  be  to  die  for  it.  Arrived  at  Rome,  on  a  feast  day  he 
was  set  in  the  midst  of  the  amphitheatre.  He  addressed  the  people 
thus,    Men  and  Romans,  know  ye  that  it  is  not  for  any  crime  that 


140 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


I  am  placed  here,  but  for  the  glory  of  that  God  whom  I  worship.  I 
am  as  the  wheat  of  his  field,  and  must  be  ground  by  the  teeth  of 
the  lions,  that  I  may  become  bread  worthy  of  being  served  up  to 
Him.''  According  to  one  tradition  he  fell  dead  before  the  lions 
reached  him,  and  his  body  was  not  touched  by  them.  Another  says 
that  they  tore  him  and  devoured  him,  leaving  only  a  few  bones. 


Whatever  remained  of  him  was  carried  by  his  friends  to  Antioch, 
and  it  is  said  his  relics  were  brought  again  to  Home,  and  placed  in 
the  Church  of  St.  Clement  in  540,  or  near  that  time.  February  1, 
A.  D.  107. 

St.  Ignatius  Loyola,  who  was  the  founder  of  the  Order  of  the 
Jesuits,  was  in  his  youth  a  page  in  the  court  of  Ferdinand  the 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


141 


Catholic,  and  then  a  brave  and  gay  soldier.  His  family  was  one  of 
the  most  noble,  and  Ignatius  was  filled  with  pride  of  race,  and  was 
vain  of  his  handsome  person.  At  Pampeluna,  when  thirty  years  old, 
he  was  wounded  in  both  legs,  and  although  he  endured  the  most 
torturing  operations  to  prevent  lameness,  they  were  in  vain.  While 
confined  by  these  sufferings,  he  read  the  Life  of  Christ  and  other 


(llubens.)    St.  Ignatius  Loyola. 


books,  which  resulted  in  his  resolving  to  devote  himself  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Blessed  Mother  of  God,  and  that  of  lier  Son,  whose 
soldier  he  would  be.  As  soon  as  possible  he  laid  his  sword  and 
lance  upon  the  altar  of  Our  Lady  of  Montserrat,  and  went  to  Man- 
resa.  Here  he  was  subject  to  great  temptations,  and  Satan  so  tor- 
mented him  with  doubts  as  to  make  him  almost  a  maniac  ;  but  at 
length  by  visions  he  was  assured  of  his  salvation  as  well  as  instructed 
in  the  faith.  He  then  attempted  to  go  to  Jerusalem,  but  was  pre- 
vented, and  obliged  to  remain  in   Spain.    Not  being  allowed  to 


142 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


teach  on  account  of  his  ignorance  of  theology,  he  submitted  to  a 
tedious  course  of  study.  After  a  time  he  went  to  Paris,  where  he 
made  the  acquaintance  of  five  men  who  sympathized  with  his  views, 
and  who  with  a  few  others,  formed  themselves  into  a  community 
under  his  direction.  In  addition  to  the  usual  monastic  vows  of 
poverty,  chastity,  and  obedience,  they  promised  unreserved  obedience 
to  the  pope,  and  to  go  to  any  part  of  the  globe  where  he  should 
send  them.  There  were  three  especial  duties  belonging  to  this 
Order,  which  was  called  the  "  Company  of  Jesus":  first,  preaching; 
second,  the  guidance  of  souls  in  confession  ;  and  third,  the  teach- 
ing of  the  young.  It  was  three  years  before  Ignatius  obtained  the 
confirmation  of  the  Order  of  which  he  was  the  first  General.  The 
usual  number  of  miracles,  visions,  penances,  and  temptations  are 
attributed  to  him.  On  his  way  to  Rome,  it  is  said  the  Saviour 
appeared  to  him,  bearing  his  cross,  and  saying,  Ego  vobis  Roma? 
propltius  ero,"  and  again  an  angel  held  before  him  a  tablet  thus 
inscribed,  "  In  hoc  vocabitur  tibi  nomen."    July  31,  A.  D.  1556. 

St.  Ildefonso  or  Alphonso  (Ger.  Der  Heilige  Ildephons). 
This  saint  was  one  of  the  first  Benedictines  in  Spain.  He  devoted 
himself  to  the  service  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  wrote  a  book  to 
prove  her  perpetual  virginity.  He  had  two  remarkable  visions.  In 
one  St.  Leocadia,  to  whom  he  had  vowed  particular  devotion,  rose 
out  of  her  tomb  to  assure  him  of  the  favor  of  the  Virgin,  and  of  the 
approval  of  his  treatise  in  her  praise.  The  saint  wore  a  Spanish 
mantilla,  and  Ildefonso  cut  off  a  corner  of  it,  which  was  preserved 
in  her  chapel  at  Toledo.  Again,  as  he  entered  his  church  at  mid- 
night, at  the  head  of  a  procession,  he  saAv  a  great  light  about  the 
high  altar.  All  were  alarmed  save  himself.  Approaching,  he  beheld 
the  Virgin  seated  on  his  ivory  throne,  surrounded  by  angels,  and 
chanting  a  service.  He  bowed  before  her,  and  she  said,  "  Come 
hither,  most  faithful  servant  of  God,  and  receive  this  robe,  which  I 
have  brought  thee  from  the  treasury  of  my  Son."  Then  she  threw 
over  him,  as  he  knelt,  a  cassock  of  heavenly  substance,  and  the 
angels  adjusted  it.  From  that  time  he  never  occupied  the  throne  or 
wore  the  garment.  Archbishop  Sisiberto  died  on  account  of  his  pre- 
sumption in  endeavoring  to  wear  the  robe,  and  sit  on  the  throne. 
He  was  archbishop  and  patron  saint  of  Toledo.    January  23,  A.  d.  667. 

Innocents,  The  Massacre  of  {Jtal.  Gli  Innocenti  FanciuUi 
Martiri,  I  Santi  Bambini  Martiri ;  Fr.  Les  Innocents ;  Ger.  Die 
Unschuldigen  Kindlein).  These  murdered  infants  are  regarded  with 
especial  homage  by  the  Church,  as  being  the  first  Christian  martyrs, 
and  in  a  sense  they  are  so.  While  we  connect  willingness  to  suffer 
for  Christ  with  martyrdom,  still  it  is  true  that  unconsciously  these 
children  suffered  for  him,  since  it  was  on  account  of  his  birth  that 
they  were  destroyed.  They  are  represented  with  martyrs'  palms. 
Sometimes  they  sustain  the  cross  and  the  instruments  of  torture, 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


143 


again  they  surround  the  Madonna  and  Child,  or  are  received  into 
heaven  by  the  Infant  Saviour. 

St.  Isabella  of  France,  who  founded  the  convent  at  Long- 
champs,  was  sister  to  the  saintly  King  Louis.  She  was  educated 
with  her  brother  by  their  mother,  Blanche  of  Castile.  She  dedicated 
her  convent  to  the  "  Humility  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,"  and  gave  to  it 
all  her  dowry.  As  long  as  the  convent  existed,  the  festival  of  this 
saint  was  celebrated  with  great  splendor.    February  22,  A.  d.  1270. 

St.  Isidore  the  Ploughman  {Ital  Sant'  Isidoro  Agricola ; 
Sp.  San  Isidro  el  Labrador).  The  Spanish  legend  teaches  that  this 
saint  could  not  read  or  write.  His  father  was  a  poor  laborer,  and 
he  himself  was  the  servant  of  a  farmer,  named  Juan  de  Vargas. 
Isidore  spent  much  time  in  prayer,  and  his  master  went  one  day  to 
the  field  determined  to  forbid  what  he  considered  a  waste  of  time. 
As  he  came  near  he  saw  two  angels  guiding  the  plough,  while  the 
saint  knelt  at  his  devotions  near  by.  One  day  when  his  master 
thirsted,  Isidore  struck  a  rock  with  his  goad,  and  pure  water  flowed 
out.  He  restored  a  child  to  life  by  his  prayers,  and  performed 
various  other  miracles.    May  10,  A.  d.  1170. 

St.  Isidore,  Bishop  of  Seville,  is  styled  the  "  Egregius  Doc- 
tor of  Spain."  His  brother  Leander,  who  preceded  him  in  his 
bishopric,  is  called  the  "  Apostle  of  the  Goths,"  and  they  are  both 
distinguished  for  their  opposition  to  the  Arian  doctrines.  In  Spanish 
pictures  they  are  represented  with  Ferdinand  of  Castile  and  St. 
Hermengildus.  In  the  Church  of  St.  Isidore,  at  Seville,  is  a  magnifi- 
cent picture  (el  Transito  de  San  Isidoro),  which  represents  him 
dying  on  the  steps  of  the  altar,  having  given  all  his  property  to  the 
poor.  Both  these  brothers  are  patron  saints  of  Seville.  April  4, 
A.  D.  606. 

St.  Ives  of  Bretagne  {Ital  Sant'  Ivo;  on  account  of  his 
profession,  he  is  styled  "  Saint  Yves-Helori,  Avocat  des  Pauvres  "). 
He  belonged  to  a  noble  family,  and  from  his  mother,  Aza  du  Plessis, 
who  conducted  his  early  education,  he  derived  his  remarkable  piety. 
As  a  boy  he  had  an  ambition  .  to  be  a  saint.  He  was  but  fourteen 
Tvhen  he  went  to  Paris,  and  here  and  afterwards  at  Orleans  he 
devoted  himself  to  legal  studies.  It  has  been  said  that  lawyers  have 
chosen  him  as  their  patron  rather  than  pattern,  as  he  was  distin- 
guished for  his  love  of  justice  and  its  vindication  under  all  circum- 
stances. All  through  his  years  of  study  he  gave  many  hours  to 
religious  duties,  and  especially  to  the  labors  of  charity.  He  also  at 
this  time  made  a  vow  of  celibacy.  After  returning  home  he  studied 
theology.  At  the  age  of  thirty  he  was  made  judge  advocate.  He 
always  attempted  to  reconcile  contending  parties  without  resorting 
to  law,  and  was  always  ready  to  plead  for  the  poor  without  recom- 
pense. At  length  he  entered  the  ministry.  Before  assuming  his 
priestly  garments  he  gave  those  he  had  worn  to  the  poor,  and  went 
out  from  the  hospital  where  he  had  distributed  them  with  bare  head 


144 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


and  feet.  When  a  priest,  he  continued  to  be  TAvocat  des  Pauvres, 
and  his  double  duties  wore  on  his  health.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
fifty.    He  is  the  patron  of  lawyers  in  all  Europe.    May  19,  A.  d.  1303. 

St.  James  the  Great  {LaL  Sanctus  Jacobus  Major ;  Ital  San 
Giacomo,  or  Jacopo,  Maggiore  ;  Fr.  St.  Jacques  Majeur  ;  >S;:>.  San 
Jago  or  Santiago,  El  Tutelar).  St.  James,  called  the  Major,  the 
Great,  or  the  Elder,  is  presented  to  us  in  two  very  different  charac- 


(Carreno  de  Miranda.)  Santiago 


ter  •  each  being  important  and  full  of  interest.  First,  in  the  Gospels 
as  the  brother  of  the  Evangelist,  and  a  near  kinsman  and  favorite 
disciple  of  our  Lord.  He  was  much  with  Jesus,  and  present  at  many 
of  the  most  important  events  in  his  life,  such  as  his  transfiguration 
and  the  agony  of  the  Garden.  Still,  after  the  Saviour's  ascension 
nothing  is  told  of  him,  save  that  he  was  slain  by  Herod.  But  in  his 
second  character,  as  patron  saint  of  Spain,  we  can  make  jio  com- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


145 


plaint  of  the  meagreness  of  the  writings  concerning  him.  The 
legends  of  him  and  his  works  would  fill  a  volume ;  and  he  is  said  to 
have  appeared  after  death  at  the  head  of  the  Spanish  armies  on 
thirty-eight  different  occasions.  The  Spanish  legend,  while  it  makes 
Santiago  the  son  of  Zebedee  and  a  native  of  Galilee,  does  not  repre- 
sent him  as  a  poor  fisherman,  who  followed  that  vocation  for  a  liveli- 
hood, but  as  a  nobleman's  son,  who  accompanied  his  father  and 
brother  in  a  boat,  attended  by  servants,  merely  for  pastime  and  sport. 
But  so  heavenly  minded  was  this  young  nobleman,  that  he  was 
greatly  attracted  to  Jesus,  and  chose  to  follow  him  in  all  his  labors, 
witnessing  his  wonderful  miracles,  and  imbibing  his  spirit  and  teach- 
ing. After  the  ascension  of  Christ,  James  preached  first  in  Judaea, 
and  then  travelling  as  a  missionary,  to  bear  the  news  of  the  Gospel 
to  all  the  earth,  came  at  last  to  Spain.  Here  he  made  few  converts, 
on  account  of  the  dreadful  ignorance  and  idolatry  of  the  people.  At 
length  as  he  was  standing  one  day  on  the  banks  of  the  Ebro,  the 
Virgin  appeared  to  him,  and  commanded  him  to  build  there  a  church 
for  her  worship,  assuring  him  that  in  the  future  this  pagan  land 
should  devoutly  worship  her  divine  Son  and  herself  He  obeyed, 
and  having  established  the  faith  in  Spain,  he  returned  to  Judaea, 
where  he  preached  until  his  death,  many  years  after.  The  Jews 
were  very  bitter  in  their  persecutions  of  James,  and  one  Hermog- 
enes,  a  sorcerer,  especially  opposed  him.  He  sent  one  of  his  pupils, 
Philetus,  to  oppose  him  in  argument.  James  signally  defeated  the 
Jew,  and  moreover  converted  him  to  his  own  doctrines.  This  greatly 
enraged  Hermogenes,  who  in  revenge  bound  Philetus  by  his  spells, 
and  then  told  him  to  let  his  new  teacher  deliver  him.  Philetus  sent 
his  servant  to  James,  who,  when  he  heard  his  story,  sent  his  cloak  to 
his  new  disciple,  and  as  soon  as  Philetus  touched  it  he  freed  himself 
and  went  to  James  with  haste.  Hermogenes  then  sent  a  band  of 
demons  with  orders  to  bind  both  James  and  Philetus  and  bring  them 
to  him,  but  on  the  way  they  met  a  company  of  angels,  who  punished 
them  severely.  St.  James  then  ordered  the  demons  to  bring  Her- 
mogenes bound  to  him.  They  obeyed,  and  besought  him  as  they 
laid  the  sorcerer  at  his  feet,  that  he  would  be  revenged  for  them  and 
himself  on  a  common  enemy.  But  James  assured  them  that  his 
Master  had  taught  him  to  do  good  for  evil,  and  so  released  the 
prisoner.  Hermogenes  cast  all  his  books  into  the  sea,  and  entreated 
James  to  protect  him  from  the  demons  who  had  been  his  slaves. 
The  apostle  gave  him  his  own  staff*,  and  from  that  time  the  perse- 
cutor became  the  earnest  and  faithful  disciple,  and  preached  his  doc- 
trines with  effect.  At  length  the  Jews  were  determined  to  destroy 
him,  and  sent  to  drag  him  before  Herod  Agrippa.  His  gentleness, 
and  the  miracles  which  he  did  on  the  way,  so  touched  the  soul  of  one 
of  his  tormentors  that  he  begged  to  die  with  him.  James  gave  him 
a  kiss,  saying  "  Pax  vobis,"  and  from  this  arose  the  "  kiss  of  peace," 
which  has  been  used  as  a  benediction  in  the  Church  from  that  time. 
10 


146 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


The  saint  and  his  last  convert  were  then  beheaded.  The  legend 
of  the  dead  body  of  James  is  far  more  wonderful  than  any  of  his  life. 
His  disciples  took  his  body,  but  not  daring  to  bury  it,  put  it  on  a 
ship  at  Joppa.  Many  accounts  are  given  of  this  miraculous  vessel. 
Some  say  it  was  of  marble,  but  all  agree  that  angels  conducted  it  to 
Spain.  In  seven  days  they  sailed  through  the  Pillars  of  Hercules 
and  landed  at  Iria  Flavia,  or  Padron.  They  bore  the  body  on  shore 
and  laid  it  on  a  large  stone,  which  became  like  wax  and  received  the 
body  into  itself.  This  was  a  sign  that  the  saint  desired  to  remain 
there.  But  the  country  was  ruled  by  a  very  wicked  queen,  who 
commanded  that  they  should  place  the  stone  on  a  car  and  attach 
wild  bulls  to  it,  thinking  that  they  would  dash  it  in  pieces.  But  the 
bulls  gently  drew  the  car  into  the  court  of  Lupa's  palace.  Then  she 
was  converted,  and  built  a  magnificent  church  to  receive  the  body 
of  James.  Afterwards  the  knowledge  of  his  burial-place  was  lost 
until  the  year  800,  when  it  was  revealed  to  a  priest.  The  remains 
were  removed  to  Compostella,  which  became  one  of  the  most  famous 
of  shrines,  on  account  of  the  miracles  done  there.  The  Order  of  St. 
Jago  was  instituted  by  Don  Alphonso,  for  its  protection,  and  was  one 
of  the  most  honorable  and  wea,lthy  in  all  Spain.  The  fame  of  the 
shrine  of  Compostella  spread  over  Europe,  and  in  some  years  it  was 
visited  by  a  hundred  thousand  pilgrims.  One  of  the  most  curious 
of  the  legends  of  this  saint,  and  one  frequently  treated  in  art,  is  con- 
nected with  three  of  these  pioys  pilgrims.  A  German  with  his  wife 
and  son  made  a  pilgrimage  to  the  shrine  of  St.  James,  and  lodged  at 
Torlosa  on  the  way.  The  son  was  a  handsome  youth,  and  the 
daughter  of  the  Torlosa  innkeeper  conceived  a  wicked  passion  for 
him.  He  being  a  virtuous  young  man,  and  moreover  on  a  pious  pil- 
grimage, repulsed  her  advances.  She  determined  to  revenge  this 
slight  to  her  charms,  and  hid  her  father's  silver  drinking-cup  in  his 
wallet.  As  soon  as  it  was  missed,  she  directed  suspicion  to  the 
young  pilgrim.  He  was  followed,  and  the  cup  found  in  his  sack. 
He  was  then  taken  to  the  judge,  who  sentenced  him  to  be  hung,  and 
all  that  the  family  had  was  confiscated.  The  afflicted  parents  con- 
tinued on  their  pilgrimage,  and  sought  consolation  at  the  altar  of 
Santiago.  On  their  return,  they  stopped  at  the  gibbet  where  their 
son  had  hung  for  thirty-six  days.  And  the  son  spoke  to  them  and 
said,  "  O  my  mother !  O  my  father !  do  not  lament  for  me  ;  I  have 
never  been  in  better  cheer.  The  blessed  apostle  James  is  at  my 
side,  sustaining  me,  and  filling  me  with  celestial  comfort  and  joy." 
The  parents  being  amazed,  hastened  to  the  judge.  He  was  seated 
at  the  table.  The  mother  rushed  in,  and  exclaimed,  "  Our  son 
lives  !  "  The  judge  mocked  them,  and  said,  "  What  say  est  thou, 
good  woman  ?  thou  art  beside  thyself !  If  thy  son  lives,  so  do  those 
fowls  in  my  dish."  He  had  hardly  spoken,  when  the  two  fowls, 
which  were  a  cock  and  a  hen,  rose  up  feathered  in  the  dish,  and  the 
cock  began  to  crow.    The  judge  called  the  priests  and  lawyers,  and 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


147 


they  went  to  the  place  of  execution,  and  delivered  the  young  man 
to  his  parents.  The  miraculous  cock  and  hen  were  placed  under  the 
protection  of  the  Church,  and  their  posterity  religiously  preserved  for 
a  long  time.  The  most  notable  occasion  upon  which  St.  James 
appeared  to  lead  the  soldiers  of  Spain,  was  in  the  year  939,  when 
King  Ramirez  determined  not  to  submit  longer  to  the  tribute  of  one 
hundred  virgins,  which  was  annually  paid  to  the  Moors.  He  defied 
Abdelraman  to  a  battle  which  took  place  on  the  plain  of  Alveida,  or 
Clavijo.  After  a  furious  contest,  the  Christians  were  driven  back.  That 
night  St.  James  appeared  to  Ramirez  and  promised  to  be  with  him  the 
following  day,  and  give  him  the  victory.  The  king  related  this  to 
his  officers,  and  also  to  his  soldiers  when  they  were  ready  for  the 
field.  He  recommended  them  to  trust  to  the  heavenly  aid  which 
had  been  promised.  The  whole  army  caught  the  spirit  of  their  king, 
and  rushed  to  battle.  Immediately  St.  James  appeared  at  their  head 
on  a  milk-white  charger,  waving  a  white  standard.  He  led  them  to 
victory,  and  sixty  thousand  Moors  were  left  dead  on  the  field.  From 
that  day  "  Santiago ! "  has  been  the  Spanish  war-cry.  In  early 
works  of  art  St.  James  is  usually,  if  not  always,  represented  with  the 
other  disciples,  and  may  be  known  by  his  place,  which  is  the  fourth. 
But  later  he  has  been  portrayed  in  all  the  different  scenes  of  his 
life,  and  very  frequently  as  a  pilgrim  of  Compostella.  In  this  char- 
acter he  bears  the  pilgrim's  staff  and  wallet,  the  cloak  and  shell, 
while  his  hat  is  often  on  his  shoulder.  The  most  effective  represen- 
tation of  this  that  I  have  seen  is  the  statue  by  Thorwaldsen  in  the 
Church  of  Our  Lady  at  Copenhagen.    July  25,  A.  D.  44. 

St.  James  Minor  {Fr.  S.  Jaques  Mineur ;  Ital.  San  Jacopo 
or  Giacomo  Minore  ;  Lat.  S.  Jacobus  Frater  Domini ;  Gr.  'A8eA- 
(jioOeoq,  brother  of  God).  This  saint  has  another  most  honorable  title 
of  The  Just."  He  was  the  son  of  Cleophas  and  Mary,  the  sister 
of  the  Virgin  Mary ;  in  reality  cousin-german  to  the  Saviour,  but 
often  styled  "  the  Lord's  brother."  The  epistle  which  he  wrote 
beautifully  speaks  the  piety  and  love  for  which  he  was  venerated. 
He  is  distinguished  as  the  first  Christian  Bishop  of  Jerusalem.  The 
Jews  threw  him  down  from  one  of  the  terraces  of  the  Temple,  and  as 
he  fell  his  brains  were  beaten  out  with  a  fuller's  club,  which  instru- 
ment of  his  death  is  his  proper  attribute  in  works  of  art.  When  the 
disciples  are  all  represented,  St.  James  the  Less  is  the  ninth  in  order. 
The  legends  teach  that  James  bore  a  striking  resemblance  to  Jesus, 
so  much  so  that  they  were  at  times  mistaken  for  each  other,  and  that 
it  was  this  circumstance  which  made  necessary  the  kiss  of  Judas. 
James  made  a  vow  that  he  would  not  eat  bread  from  the  time  that 
he  partook  of  the  Last  Supper  until  he  should  see  Jesus  raised  from 
the  dead.  Soon  after  his  resurrection,  the  Saviour  went  to  show 
himself  to  James,  and  asked  for  a  table  and  bread.  He  blessed  the 
bread,  and  gave  it  to  James,  saying,  "  My  brother,  eat  thy  bread ; 
for  the  Son  of  man  is  risen  from  among  them  that  sleep."    May  1. 


148 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


St.  Januarius  (Ital  San  Gennaro  ;  Fr.  Saint  Janvier).  This 
saint,  who  was  Bishop  of  Benevento,  came  in  the  tenth  persecution 
to  Naples  with  six  of  his  disciples,  to  comfort  and  cheer  the  Chris- 
tians. They  were  seized  and  thrown  to  the  beasts  of  the  amphi- 
theatre, but  they  would  not  harm  them.  Januarius  was  then  thrown 
into  a  fiery  furnace,  which  hurt  him  not ;  and  at  last  he  was  be- 
headed. He  is  represented  as  a  bishop  with  the  palm,  and  usually 
with  Mt.  Vesuvius  in  the  distance  ;  for  he  is  the  patron  saint  of 
Naples,  and  its  protector  from  the  fearful  eruptions  of  the  volcano. 
The  miracle  of  the  blood  of  Januarius  is  too  well  known  to  need 
description  here.    September  19,  a.  d.  305. 


(Titian.)   Penance  of  St.  Jerome. 


St.  Jerome  (Lat.  Sanctus  Hieronymus  ;  Ital.  San  Geronimo  or 
Girolamo ;  Fr.  Saint  Jerome,  Hierome,  or  Geroisme ;  Ger.  Der 
Heilige  Hieronimus).  St.  Jerome  has  universal  importance  and  con- 
sideration on  account  of  The  Vulgate,"  or  his  translation  of  the 
New  Testament  into  Latin,  and  also  that  which  his  wonderful  piety 
and  learning  must  inevitably  command  ;  but  in  the  Bomish  Church 
he  is  additionally  venerated  as  the  father  of  Monachism  in  the  West. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


149 


He  was  the  son  of  Eusebius,  a  rich  Dalmatian  of  Stridonium,  and 
was  born  about  A.  d.  342.  Being  a  scholar  of  more  than  usual 
promise,  he  was  sent  to  Rome  to  complete  his  studies.  There  for  a 
time  he  led  a  life  of  pleasure,  but  at  length  he  became  distinguished 
as  a  lawyer,  and  especially  so  on  account  of  his  eloquence  in  plead- 
ing his  cause.  At  about  thirty  years  of  age  he  was  baptized,  and  at 
the  same  time  took  a  vow  of  celibacy.  After  having  journeyed  into 
Gaul,  he  went  in  373  to  the  East,  to  gratify  an  insatiable  desire  to 
live  among  the  scenes  where  Christ  had  dwelt.  He  became  so 
enamored  of  the  hermit  life,  which  was  then  so  common  in  the 
Orient,  that  he  retired  to  a  desert  in  Chalcis,  where  he  passed  four 
years  in  study  and  seclusion.  But  this  time  was  not  without  its 
recollections  of  another  life,  and  longings  for  both  the  sins  and 
pleasures  of  the  past.  He  says  :  "  O,  how  often  in  the  desert,  in 
that  vast  solitude  which,  parched  by  the  sultry  sun,  affords  a  dwell- 
ing to  the  monks,  did  I  fancy  myself  in  the  midst  of  the  luxuries  of 
Rome !  I  sat  alone,  for  I  was  full  of  bitterness."  But  one  thing 
which  caused  him  severe  trials  was  his  love  of  learning  and  his 
appreciation  of  all  that  was  elegant  and  beautiful  in  the  ancient 
classics.  This  gave  him  a  disgust  for  the  crudeness  of  the  Christian 
writers,  and  it  was  a  fearful  struggle  for  him  to  master  the  Hebrew. 
All  this  appeared  to  him  as  dreadful  sin.  He  says  that  he  fasted 
before  he  read  Cicero,  and  he  describes  a  vision  which  these  mental 
struggles  undoubtedly  caused.  He  thought  he  heard  the  last  trum- 
pet sounded,  and  that  he  was  commanded  to  appear  before  God  for 
judgment.  "  Wlio  art  thou  ? "  was  the  first  question.  Jerome 
replied,  A  Christian."  Then  came  a  fearful  reply  :  "  'Tis  false  ! 
thou  art  no  Christian ;  thou  art  a  Ciceronian.  Where  the  treasure 
is,  there  will  the  heart  be  also."  After  ten  years  of  wearisome 
temptation  and  struggle,  of  weary  controversy  and  labors,  he  returned 
to  Rome.  Here  he  preached  with  all  the  enthusiastic  eloquence  he 
could  command,  against  the  luxury  of  the  Roman  clergy  and  laity, 
and  maintained  the  doctrines  of  extreme  self-denial  and  abstinence. 
He  especially  influenced  the  Roman  women,  some  of  the  most  distin- 
guished becoming  converts  to  his  doctrine,  and  being  ready  to  follow 
him  in  any  self-sacrifice.  Paula,  a  descendant  of  the  Scipios  and 
Gracchi,  whose  cell  is  shown  in  the  monastery  at  Bethlehem,  was 
perhaps  the  most  celebrated  of  these  converts,  but  Marcella  is 
another  name  handed  down  to  us  with  his.  She  is  by  some  held 
to  be  the  first  who  founded  a  religious  community  for  women,  while 
others  give  this  high  dignity  to  St.  Martha.  Jerome  remained  but 
three  years  in  Rome,  when  he  returned  to  his  monastery  at  Beth- 
lehem. Here  he  died  ;  and  when  he  knew  that  death  was  approach- 
ing, he  desired  to  be  borne  into  the  chapel,  Avhere  he  received  the 
sacrament,  expiring  soon  after.  He  left  many  epistles  and  contro- 
versial writings,  and  the  cell  in  which  he  wrote  at  Bethlehem  is 


150 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


regarded  with  great  veneration.  The  Jeronymites  were  distin- 
guished for  the  magnificence  of  some  of  their  cliurches  and  convents. 
The  Escurial  was  theirs,  as  well  as  the  Monastery  of  Belem,  in  Por- 
tugal, and  that  of  St.  Just,  to  which  Charles  Y.  retired  when  he 
gave  up  his  throne.  The  proper  attributes  of  St.  Jerome  are  books, 
illustrative  of  his  writings,  and  the  lion,  which  is  emblematic  of  the 
boldness  and  watchfulness  of  the  saint ;  but  there  is  also  a  legend 
which  accounts  for  the  association  of  the  lion  with  the  holy  man. 
One  evening  he  was  sitting  at  the  gate  of  his  monastery  when  a  lion 
entered,  limping,  as  if  wounded.  The  monks  were  all  terrified,  and 
fled,  except  Jerome,  who  went  to  meet  him.  The  lion  lifted  his 
paw,  and  in  it  Jerome  found  a  thorn  which  he  extracted,  and  then 
tended  the  wound  till  it  was  well.  The  lion  remained  with  the 
saint,  and  he  made  it  the  duty  of  the  beast  to  guard  an  ass  which 
brought  wood  from  the  forest.  One  day,  while  the  lion  slept,  a  car- 
avan of  merchants  passed,  and  they  stole  the  ass  and  drove  it  away. 
The  lion  returned  to  the  convent  with  an  air  of  shame.  Jerome 
believed  that  he  had  eaten  the  ass,  and  condemned  him  to  do  the 
work  of  the  ass,  to  which  the  lion  quietly  submitted,  until  the  ass 
was  again  discovered  by  himself  in  the  following  manner :  One  day 
after  his  task  was  ended,  he  saw  a  caravan  approaching,  the  camels 
of  which  (as  is  the  custom  of  the  Arabs)  were  led  by  an  ass.  The 
lion  immediately  saw  that  it  was  his  stolen  charge,  and  he  drove  the 
camels  into  the  convent,  whither  the  ass  gladly  led  them.  The 
merchants  acknowledged  the  theft,  and  St.  Jerome  pardoned  them 
for  it.  Hence  the  lion  is  so  often  associated  with  the  saint ;  but  its 
appropriateness  as  a  type  of  his  wilderness  life,  and  his  zealous  and 
vehement  nature,  is  a  more  satisfactory  thought  than  the  fanciful 
wildness  of  this  legend  can  give.  The  introduction  of  the  cardinal's 
hat  into  the  pictures  of  this  saint  is  a  glaring  anachronism,  as  there 
were  no  cardinals  until  three  centuries  later  than  that  in  which  he 
lived.  St.  Jerome,  as  a  penitent,  is  the  subject  of  numberless  pic- 
tures, and  his  last  communion  by  Domenichino  (Vatican)  is  one  of 
the  most  celebrated  of  all  pictures.  St.  Jerome  is  the  special  patron 
of  students  in  theology.     September  30,  a.  d.  420.  , 

Jew,  The  Wandering.    See  Wandering  Jew. 

St.  Joachim  (JtaL  San  Gioacchino ;  Fr.  St.  Joakim)  was  the 
husband  of  Anna,  and  the  father  of  the  Virgin  Mary.  He  was  of 
Nazareth,  and  his  wife  of  Bethlehem,  and  both  of  the  royal  race  of 
David.  Joachim  was  rich,  and  an  extremely  devout  man.  He  was 
childless,  and  it  happened  that  on  a  certain  feast  day  when  he 
brought  his  offering  to  the  Temple  it  was  refused  by  Issachar,  the 
high-priest,  who  said,  "It  is  not  lawful  for  thee  to  bring  thine  offer- 
ing, seeing  that  thou  hast  not  begot  issue  in  Israel."  Joachim  went 
away  sorrowful,  and  he  searched  the  registers  of  Israel,  and  he  found 
that  he  alone  of  all  the  righteous  men  had  been  childless.    And  he 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


151 


-  went  away  and  would  be  seen  by  no  one,  and  built  a  hut,  and  fasted 
forty  days  and  nights,  saying,  "  Until  the  Lord  look  upon  me  merci- 
fully, prayer  shall  be  my  meat  and  my  drink."  And  Anna  mourned 
grievously,  for  her  barrenness,  and  for  the  absence  of  her  husband. 
At  length  her  handmaid,  Judith,  wished  to  cheer  her,  and  tried  to 
persuade  her  to  array  herself,  and  attend  the  feast.  But  Anna 
repulsed  her  in  such  a  way  as  that  Judith  was  angry,  and  told  her 
mistress  that  she  could  wish  her  nothing  worse  than  that  which  God 
had  sent  her,  since  he  had  closed  her  womb,  that  she  could  not  be  a 
mother.  Then  Anna  arose  and  put  on  her  bridal  attire,  and  went 
forth  to  her  garden,  and  prayed  earnestly.  And  she  sat  beneath  a 
laurel-tree,  where  a  sparrow  had  a  nest,  and  Anna  said,  "  Alas  !  and 
woe  is  me  !  Who  hath  begotten  me  ?  Who  hath  brought  me  forth  ? 
That  I  should  be  accursed  in  the  sight  of  Israel,  and  scorned  and 
shamed  before  my  people,  and  cast  out  of  the  temple  of  the  Lord  ! 
Woe  is  me  !  to  what  shall  I  be  likened  ?  I  cannot  be  likened  to 
the  fowls  of  heaven ;  for  the  fowls  of  heaven  are  fruitful  in  thy 
sight,  0  Lord  !  Woe  is  me  !  to  what  shall  I  be  likened  ?  Not 
to  the  unreasoning  beasts  of  the  earth,  for  they  are  fruitful  in  thy 
sight,  O  Lord  !  Woe  is  me  !  to  what  shall  I  be  likened  ?  Not  to 
these  waters,  for  they  are  fruitful  in  thy  sight,  O  Lord  !  Woe  is 
me  !  to  what  shall  I  be  likened  ?  Not  unto  the  earth,  for  the  earth 
bringeth  forth  her  fruit  in 
due  season,  and  praiseth 
thee,  O  Lord  !  "  And  im- 
mediately she  beheld  an 
angel  standing  near  her. 
And  he  said,  Anna,  thy 
prayer  is  heard,  thou  shalt 
bring  forth,  and  thy  child 
shall  be  blessed  throughout 
the  whole  world."  And 
Anna  replied,  As  the 
Lord  liveth,  whatever  I 
shall  bring  forth,  be  it  a 
man  child  or  maid,  I  will 
present  it  an  offering  to  the 
Lord."  And  another  angel 
came  to  tell  her  that  Joa- 
chim was  approaching.  For 
an  angel  had  also  spoken 
to  him,  and  he  was  com- 
forted. Then  Anna  went 
to  meet  her  husband,  who 
came  from  the  pasture  with 

his  flocks.     And  they  met  (A.  Durer.)   Joachim  meeting  Anna. 


152 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


by  the  Golden  Gate,  and  Anna  embraced  him,  and  hung  on  his  neck, 
saying,  "  Now  know  I  that  the  Lord  hath  blessed  me.  I  who  was  a 
widow,  am  no  longer  a  widow.  I  who  was  barren,  shall  become  a  joy- 
ful mother."  Then  they  returned  home  together.  And  when  her 
time  was  come,  Anna  brought  forth  a  daughter,  and  she  called  her 
Mary,  which  in  Hebrew  is  Miriam.  The  Franciscans  in  their  devo- 
tion to  the  Virgin  have  endeavored  to  teach  that  her  birth  was  not 
only  immaculate,  but  altogether  miraculous,  and  that  the  joyful  kiss 
with  which  Joachim  met  Anna,  was  the  source  of  her  being.  This 
the  Church  did  not  receive,  but  it  would  seem  that  the  sentiment  of 
the  idea  had  influenced  some  artists  in  the  representations  of  this 
meeting.    March  20. 

St.  John  the  Baptist  {Ital.  S.  Giovanni  Battista;  Fr,  St. 
Jean  Bap tiste ;  Johann  der  Talifer).    In  Scripture  this  saint, 

the  herald  of  Christ,  is  presented  in  three  characters ;  as  Preacher, 
Prophet,  and  Baptist.  Parts  of  liis  story  are  given  by  all  the  Evan- 
gelists, from  the  miraculous  circumstances  attending  his  birth  to  the 
awfully  sinful  horrors  of  his  death.  To  these  tradition  has  added  his 
miraculous  deliverance  from  the  assassins  of  Herod,  by  being  inclosed 
with  his  mother  in  a  rock,  when  she  fled  from  the  massacre  with  him 
in  her  arms.  Art  has  represented  him  as  leaving  his  home,  while 
yet  a  child,  to  begin  his  desert  life.  Legends  tell  that  the  scene  of 
his  death  was  the  royal  fortified  palace  of  Macheronta,  near  the 
Dead  Sea,  on  the  river  Jordan,  that  he  was  buried  at  Sebaster,  and 
that  his  head  was  brought  to  Europe  in  453.  He  is  venerated  almost 
universally,  and  is  the  connecting  link  between  the  Old  and  New 
Dispensations,  being  the  last  prophet  of  the  former  and  the  first 
saint  of  the  latter.  The  most  ancient  pictures  represent  him  as 
meagre  and  wasted,  with  unshorn  beard  and  hair.  This  would  seem 
the  true  way ;  but  often  in  later  times  he  is  made  beautiful,  and  even 
dressed  in  rich  mantles  which  cover  the  garment  of  camel's  hair. 
When  painted  as  the  Messenger,  he  wears  the  hairy  garment,  and 
bears  a  cup,  a  reed  cross,  and  a  scroll  with  the  inscription,  "  Vox  cla- 
mantis  in  deserto,"  or  "  Ecce  Agnus  Dei ! "  The  Greek  signification  of 
Messenger  is  Angel,  and  this  is  rendered  in  Byzantine  art  by  paint- 
ing him  with  wings.  As  a  witness  to  the  divinity  of  Christ,  he  is 
represented  at  various  ages.  He  is  introduced  into  Holy  Families 
in  this  character  in  many  diflerent  positions,  all  expressive  of  wor- 
ship to  the  Holy  Child.  He  is  patron  of  all  who  are  baptized,  and 
also  patron  saint  of  Florence.  In  baptisteries  he  is  very  frequently 
represented  in  sculpture.  In  the  historical  pictures  of  this  saint, 
which  easily  explain  themselves,  there  is  but  one  peculiarity  to  be 
noticed.  That  to  which  I  refer  is  the  representation  of  the  legend 
that  Mary  prolonged  her  visit  to  Elizabeth  until  the  birth  of  the 
child.  In  these  pictures  Mary  usually  receives  or  holds  the  babe, 
and  is  known  by  the  glory  about  her  head.    The  Greek  legends 


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153 


teach  that  his  death  took  place  two  years  before  that  of  Christ,  and  ' 
that  he  descended  to  Hades  to  remain  until  the  Saviour's  death  should 
give  him  deliverance.  He  bore  to  the  departed  spirits  the  tidings  of 
the  approaching  redemption,  at  which  they  all  rejoiced,  while  the 
devils  were  filled  with  fearful  rage.  Nativity  of  St.  John  the  Baptist, 
June  24. 

St.  John  the  Evangelist  (Greek  title,  OeoXoyos  (Word  of  God)  ; 
Lat.  Sanctus  Johannes  ;  ItaL  San  Gio- 
vanni  Evangelista ;  Fr.  Saint  Jean, 
Messire  Saint  Jehan;  Ge7\  Der  Heilige 
Johan).  More  is  known  of  this  "  disci- 
ple whom  Jesus  loved  "  than  of  the  other 
Evangelists.  He  was  son  of  Zebedee, 
and  brother  of  James  the  Great.  His 
life  seems  to  have  been  almost  insepar- 
able from  that  of  the  Master,  ever  after 
his  call  to  follow  Him.  He  saw  the 
Transfiguration.  He  leaned  on  the 
bosom  of  Our  Lord  at  the  Last  Supper. 
He  stood  by  the  cross,  and  received  the 
charge  of  Jesus  concerning  the  Virgin 
Mary,  and  he  laid  the  body  of  the 
Saviour  in  the  tomb.  He  went  with 
Peter  through  Judaea,  to  preach  the 
Gospel,  after  the  death  of  Mary.  He 
then  went  to  Asia  Minor,  living  chiefly 
at  Ephesus,  and  founding  the  seven 
churches.  During  the  persecution  of 
Domitian  he  was  taken,  bound,  to 
Rome,  and  the  Romish  traditions 
tell  that  he  was  thrown  into  a  caul- 
dron of  boiling  oil  without  injury.  The  scene  of  this  miracle  was 
outside  the  Latin  Gate,  and  the  Chapel  of  San  Giovanni  in  Olio 
commemorates  the  event.  Being  afterwards  accused  of  magic,  he 
was  exiled  to  Patmos,  where  he  is  believed  to  have  written  his 
Revelation.  Upon  the  death  of  Domitian,  he  was  allowed  to  return 
to  his  church  at  Ephesus.  Here,  when  ninety  years  old,  he  is  said 
to  have  written  his  Gospel.  He  died  at  Ephesus,  at  the  age  of  a 
century,  or  very  little  less.  One  of  the  Church  legends  teaches  that 
he  never  died,  and  is  founded  upon  the  words  which  Jesus  spoke  to 
Peter  (John  xii.  21,  22)  ;  but  it  is  not  generally  taught  or  believed. 
This  idea  is  represented  in  art  by  his  descending  into  an  open  grave, 
and  lying  down  in  sleep,  rather  than  death.  The  Greek  tradition  is 
that  he  died  without  pain,  and  immediately  arose*  again  without 
change,  and  ascended  to  heaven  to  rejoin  Jesus  and  Mary.  The 
legends  of  the  life  and  miracles  of  this  saint  are  extremely  interest- 


(Raphael.)    St.  John. 


154 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


mg.  St.  Isidore  relates  that  at  Rome  an  attempt  was  made  against 
the  life  of  John,  by  poisoning  the  sacramental  cup.  When  he  took 
the  cup,  the  poison  came  forth  in  the  form  of  a  serpent,  and  he 
drank  the  wine  unhurt,  while  the  poisoner  fell  dead  at  his  feet.  It  is 
said  to  have  been  done  by  order  of  Domitian.  Another  account 
says  that  he  was  challenged  to  drink  of  a  poisoned  cup,  in  proof  of 
the  authority  of  his  mission,  by  Aristodemus,  the  high-priest  of 
Diana  at  Ephesus,  and  that  while  John  was  unhurt,  the  priest  fell 
dead.  Clement  of  Alexandria  relates  that  when  John  was  first  at 
Ephesus,  he  took  under  liis  care  a  young  man  of  great  promise.  When 
he  was  taken  away  to  Rome  he  left  this  youth  to  the  care  of  a  bishop. 
But  the  young  man  became  dissipated  in  his  life,  and  at  length  was  the 
leader  of  a  band  of  robbers.  When  John  returned,  he  asked  of  the 
bishop  an  account  of  his  charge,  and  when  he  knew  the  truth,  he 
blamed  the  unfaithful  guardian,  and  suffered  great  grief  on  account 
of  the  young  man.  He  then  went  in  search  of  him,  and  when  he 
came  where  he  was,  the  captain  of  the  robbers  tried  to  avoid  his  old 
friend.  But  John  prevailed  on  him  to  listen  to  his  words.  As  John 
talked  to  him,  he  tried  to  conceal  his  hand,  which  had  committed 
many  crimes.  But  John  seized  it,  and  kissing  it,  bathed  it  with  his 
tears.  He  succeeded  in  reconverting  the  robber,  and  reconciled  him 
to  God  and  to  himself.  At  another  time  two  rich  young  men  sold 
their  possessions  to  follow  the  Apostle.  Afterwards  they  repented, 
seeing  wliich  John  sent  them  to  gather  stones  and  fagots,  and  changed 
these  to  gold,  saying :  "  Take  back  your  riches,  and  enjoy  them  on 
earth,  as  you  regret  having  exchanged  them  for  heaven."  When 
John  returned  to  Ephesus  from  Patmos,  he  met  a  funeral  procession 
as  he  approached  the  city.  When  he  asked  whom  they  bore,  and 
heard  that  it  was  Drusiana,  he  was  sad,  for  she  had  been  one  rich  in 
good  works,  and  John  had  dwelt  in  her  house.  He  ordered  them  to 
put  down  the  bier,  and  he  prayed  earnestly  to  God,  who  restored  the 
woman  to  life ;  and  she  arose  and  John  returned  with  her,  and  dwelt 
again  in  her  house.  Two  wonderful  miracles  are  related  of  John,  as 
being  performed  after  his  death.  King  Edward  the  Confessor  rev- 
erenced John  next  to  the  Saviour  and  the  Virgin  Mother.  One  day 
he  attended  a  mass  in  honor  of  St.  John,  and  as  he  returned  he  met 
a  beggar,  who  asked  him  an  alms  in  the  name  of  God  and  St.  John. 
The  king  drew  from  his  finger  a  ring,  and  gave  it  to  the  man, 
unknown  to  any  one  beside.  When  Edward  had  reigned  twenty-four 
years,  two  Englishmen,  who  had  been  as  pilgrims  to  the  Holy  Land, 
met  on  their  return  a  man,  also  in  the  garb  of  a  pilgrim.  He  asked 
them  of  their  country,  and  said,  "  When  ye  shall  have  arrived  in 
your  own  country,  go  to  King  Edward,  and  salute  him  in  my  name. 
Say  to  him  that  I  thank  him  for  the  alms  which  he  bestowed  on  me 
in  a  certain  street  in  Westminster ;  for  there,  on  a  certain  day,  as  I 
beo'o'ed  of  him  an  alms,  he  bestowed  on  me  this  ring,  which  till  now 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


155 


I  have  preserved,  and  ye  shall  carry  it  back  to  him,  saying,  that  in 
six  months  from  this  time  he  shall  quit  the  world,  and  come  and 
remain  with  me  forever."  Then  the  pilgrims  said,  Who  art  thou, 
and  where  is  thy  dwelling-place  ?  "  And  he  replied,  I  am  John 
the  Evangelist.  Edward,  your  king,  is  my  friend,  and  for  the  sanctity 
of  his  life  I  hold  him  dear.  Go  now,  therefore,  deliver  to  him  this 
message,  and  this  ring,  and  I  will  pray  to  God  that  ye  may  arrive 
safely  in  your  own  country."  Having  said  this,  St.  John  gave  them 
the  ring,  and  vanished  out  of  their  sight.  Then  thanking  God 
for  tliis  glorious  vision,  the  pilgrims  kept  on  their  way,  and  went  to 
King  Edward,  and  delivered  the  ring  and  the  message.  He  received 
them  gladly,  and  entertained  them  as  royal  guests.  He  also  made 
preparations  for  death,  and  gave  the  ring  to  the  Abbot  of  Westmin- 
ster, to  be  forever  preserved  as  a  holy  relic.  This  legend  is  repre- 
sented in  sculpture  in  the  Chapel  of  Edward  the  Confessor.  Again, 
in  A.  D.  425,  when  the  Empress  Galla  Placidia  returned  to  Ravenna 
from  the  East,  she  encountered  a  fearful  storm.  She  vowed  to  St. 
John,  and  being  safely  landed,  she  built  in  his  honor  a  splendid 
church.  After  it  was  done  she  was  greatly  desirous  of  having  some 
relics  of  the  saint  to  consecrate  the  sanctuary.  One  night  as  she 
prayed  earnestly,  the  saint  appeared  to  her,  and  when  she  threw  her- 
self down  to  kiss  his  feet,  he  vanished  and  left  his  sandal  in  her 
hand,  which  was  a  long  time  preserved.  The  Church  of  Galla  Pla- 
cidia at  Ravenna,  though  greatly  changed,  yet  remains,  and  on  it  may 
be  traced  in  sculpture,  both  the  storm  and  the  Empress  taking  her 
vow,  and  the  miracle  of  the  slipper.  St.  John  is  represented  in  art 
as  an  evangelist,  an  apostle,  and  a  prophet.  The  Greeks  represented 
him,  whether  apostle  or  evangelist,  as  an  old,  gray-bearded  man  ; 
but  in  Western  art  he  is  never  beyond  middle  age,  and  often  young. 
As  a  prophet,  and  the  author  of  the  Revelation,  he  is  an  aged  man, 
with  flowing  beard.  The  scene,  a  desert  with  the  sea,  to  represent 
Patmos,  while  the  eagle  is  beside  him.  His  proper  colors  are  a  blue 
or  green  tunic,  with  red  drapery ;  and  his  attributes,  beside  the  eagle, 
are  the  pen  and  book,  and  the  cup  either  with  the  serpent  or  the 
consecrated  wafer,  which  last  typifies  the  institution  of  the  Euchar- 
ist. Sometimes  the  eagle  has  a  nimbus  or  glory.  This  figures  the 
Holy  Ghost,  as  the  Jews  made  the  eagle  a  symbol  of  the  spirit. 
When  the  Baptist  and  Evangelist  are  introduced  in  the  same  picture, 
as  frequently  occurs,  the  latter  may  be  known  from  his  more  youth- 
ful look,  as  well  as  by  the  above  attributes.  When  associated  with 
the  other  apostles  he  is  distinguished  by  his  youth  and  flowing  hair, 
or  by  his  nearness  to  the  Saviour,  and  frequently  by  some  token  of 
peculiar  love  in  the  position  or  aspect  of  the  Master.  On  great 
occasions,  at  the  Church  of  the  S.  Croce,  at  Rome,  a  cup  is  exhibited 
as  that  from  which  John,  by  command  of  Domitian,  drank  poison 
without  injury.    December  27,  a.  b.  99. 


156 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


St.  John  Capistrano  was  a  Franciscan  friar,  who  after  the  capture 
of  Constantinople  by  the  Turks,  was  sent  out  to  preach  a  crusade  for 
the  defense  of  Christendom.  At  the  siege  of  Belgrade,  in  1456, 
when  Mohammed  was  repulsed  by  the  Hungarians,  this  saint  was  seen, 
with  his  crucifix  in  hand,  in  the  midst  of  the  battle  encouraging  and 
leading  on  the  soldiers.  He  died  the  same  year,  and  in  1690  he  was 
canonized  in  commemoration  of  the  deliverance  of  Vienna  from  the 
infidels,  which  took  place  in  1683.  His  attribute  is  the  crucifix  or 
the  standard  with  the  cross.  A  colossal  statue  of  him  is  on  the  ex- 
terior of  the  Cathedral  at  Vienna.  He  is  trampling  a  Turk  under  his 
feet,  while  he  has  in  one  hand  a  standard,  and  a  cross  in  the  other. 
October  23,  A.  D.  1456. 

St.  John  Chrysostom  {Lat.  Sanctus  Johannes  Chrysostom ; 
ItaL  San  Giovanni  Crisostomo,  San  Giovanni  Bocca  d'  Oro ;  Fr.  St. 
Jean  Chrysostome).  This  saint  is  always  called  by  his  Greek  appel- 
lative, which  signifies,  "  Of  the  golden  mouth."  He  was  born  at  Anti- 
och  in  344.  He  was  of  an  illustrious  family.  His  father  died  wliile 
he  was  still  young,  and  his  mother,  Arthusia,  remained  a  widow  that 
she  might  devote  herself  entirely  to  her  son.  At  twenty  he  had  won 
renown  by  the  eloquence  of  his  pleas,  for  he  was  an  advocate,  but 
he  greatly  desired  to  retire  from  the  world  as  a  hermit.  The  entrea- 
ties of  his  mother  prevented  this  until  he  was  about  twenty-eight, 
when  in  spite  of  all  he  fled  to  the  wilderness  near  and  led  a  life  of 
such  rigor  as  to  destroy  his  health  and  oblige  him  to  return  to  An- 
tioch.  Soon  after  this,  Flavian  ordained  him  a  priest,  and  tradition 
teaches  that  at  the  moment  of  his  consecration  a  white  dove  de- 
scended on  his  head.  This  signified  his  peculiar  inspiration  of  the 
Spirit,  and  truly  from  this  time,  he  seems,  as  a  Christian  orator,  to 
have  been  assisted  of  God.  Only  Paul  is  ranked  beyond  him.  He 
saved  the  people  of  his  native  city  by  his  eloquence,  when  they  had 
so  offended  the  Emperor  Theodosius  that  he  had  threatened  them 
with  dreadful  punishment.  So  much  was  he  beloved  at  Antioch, 
that  when  chosen  Patriarch  of  Constantinople  he  had  to  go  away  se- 
cretly before  the  people  could  interfere  to  retain  him.  At  Constan- 
tinople he  lived  a  life  of  humble  self-denial,  but  entertained  the 
stranger  and  the  poor  with  kind  hospitality.  His  eloquent  enthusi- 
asm, his  poetic  imagination,  and  elegant  scholarship,  added  to  his 
great  earnestness  caused  him  to  speak  as  one  inspired  of  God,  and 
he  preached  so  fearlessly  against  the  irregularities  of  the  Empress 
Eudoxia,  the  monks,  and  all  the  customs  of  the  court,  that  he  was 
banished  from  the  city.  The  people  obliged  the  emperor  to  recall 
him,  but  again  he  was  inexorable  in  his  denunciations,  and  again 
was  sent  into  exile.  His  guards  treated  him  so  cruelly  that  he  per- 
ished from  exposure  and  fatigue.  He  was  sixty-three  years  old  and 
had  been  bishop  ten  years.  It  was  thirty  years  after  his  death  when 
his  remains  were  removed  to  Constantinople,  and  the  Emperor  Theo- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


Vol 


(losius  advancing  as  far  as  Clialcedon  to  meet  them,  fell  prostrate  on 
the  coffin  and  implored  the  forgiveness  of  the  saint  in  the  names  of 
Arcadius  and  Eudoxia,  his  guilty  parents.  The  most  peculiar  of  the 
representations  of  this  saint  is  that  called  "  The  Penitence  of  St.  John 
Chrysostom."  The  legend  upon  which  it  is  founded  is  given  in  Ital- 
ian, French,  and  German,  and  differs  a  little  in  each,  but  the  princi- 
pal points  and  the  sentiment  are  the  same.  I  give  the  German  ver- 
sion. When  John  Chrysostom  was  baptized,  the  pope  (signifying 
simply  a  priest)  stood  godfather.  At  seven  years  old  he  went  to 
school  and  was  so  dull  that  he  became  the  butt  of  his  schoolmates. 
Greatly  troubled  at  their  ridicule  he  went  into  a  church  to  pray  to 
the  Virgin,  and  a  voice  said,  "  Kiss  me  on  the  mouth,  and  thou  shalt 
be  endowed  Avith  all  learning."  This  he  did,  and  when  he  returned 
to  school  his  companions  were  amazed  at  the  manner  in  which  he 
surpassed  them  all.  When  they  looked  they  saw  a  golden  circle 
about  his  mouth,  and  when  he  told  them  of  how  it  came  there  they 
were  filled  with  wonder.  His  godfather  loved  him  very  much  and 
ordained  him  a  priest  when  still  young.  The  first  time  he  offered 
the  sacrifice  of  the  mass  he  was  so  overcome  with  a  sense  of  his  un- 
worthiness  that  he  threw  off  his  priestly  robes  and  fled  to  a  rocky 
cave,  where  he  dwelt  a  long  time  in  prayer  and  meditation.  Not  far 
from  his  retreat  was  the  capital  of  a  powerful  king.  One  day  as 
the  princess  was  walking  with  her  maidens  she  was  lifted  by  the 
wind,  and  carried  far  into  the  forest.  She  came  to  the  cave  of 
Chrysostom  and  asked  for  admission,  but  he,  thinking  it  a  messen- 
ger of  the  Devil,  refused  to  let  her  in.  She  assured  him  that  she 
was  no  demon,  but  a  Christian  woman,  and  that  if  left  there  the 
beasts  would  devour  her.  So  he  admitted  her.  Then  he  drew  a 
line  in  the  middle  of  his  cell  and  said,  "  This  is  your  part,  this  is  mine, 
and  neither  shall  pass  this  line."  But  all  was  in  vain.  Passion  and 
temptation  overcame  his  resolution ;  he  passed  the  line  and  sinned. 
Both  bitterly  repented,  and  Chrysostom  fearing  further  sin  took  the 
maiden  to  a  precipice  and  threw  her  down.  Then  he  was  seized 
with  remorse,  and  went  to  the  pope  at  Rome  and  confessed  all,  beg- 
ging absolution.  But  the  pope  did  not  know  him,  and  being  filled 
with  horror  drove  him  out,  refusing  him  pardon.  Then  the  unhappy 
one  made  a  vow  never  to  rise  from  the  earth,  nor  look  upward,  but 
to  crawl  on  his  hands  and  knees  until  his  crime  should  be  expiated 
and  he  should  be  absolved  by  Heaven.  After  fifteen  years,  the 
queen  gave  birth  to  a  son,  and  when  the  pope  went  to  baptize  it,  the 
child  cried  out,  "  I  will  not  be  baptized  by  thee,  but  by  John." 
This  was  repeated  three  times,  and  although  none  could  understand 
the  meaning  of  this,  the  pope  was  afraid  to  baptize  the  child.  JSTow 
it  happened  that  the  huntsmen  had  gone  to  the  forest  for  game  for 
the  christening  feast,  and  as  they  rode  they  saw  an  unknown  animal 
creeping  on  the  ground,  and  they  threw  a  mantle  over  it,  and  chained 


158 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


it,  and  brought  it  to  tlie  palace.  Many  came  to  look  at  this  beast, 
and  among  them  the  nm-se  with  the  infant  in  her  arms,  and  immedi- 
ately the  child  cried  out,  John,  come  thou  and  baptize  me."  He 
answered,  "  If  it  be  God's  will,  speak  again."  And  the  child  a  sec- 
ond and  third  time  repeated  the  words.    Then  John  arose  and  the 


(A.  Durer.)   Penance  of  St.  John  Chrysostom. 


moss  and  hair  fell  from  him,  and  they  brought  him  garments,  and  he 
baptized  the  child  with  great  devotion.  Then  he  confessed  to  the 
king,  who  thought,  "  Perhaps  this  was  my  daughter,  who  was  lost 
and  never  found."  And  he  sent  to  seek  her  remains,  that  they 
might  be  properly  buried.  When  the  messengers  came  to  the  foot 
of  the  precipice  they  found  a  beautiful,  naked  woman,  seated  with  a 
child  in  her  arms.  And  John  said,  "  Why  sittest  thou  here  alone  in 
the  wilderness  ?  "  And  she  answered,  "  Dost  thou  not  know  me  ? 
I  am  the  woman  who  came  to  thy  cave  by  night,  and  whom  thou 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


159 


didst  hurl  down  this  rock."  Then  they  brought  her  home  to  her 
parents  with  great  joy.  The  principal  interest  in  this  extravagant 
legend  is  that  it  shows  the  feeling  which  existed  towards  Chrysostom 
before  he  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  monks  by  his  plain  preach- 
ing. The  pictures  illustrative  of  it  are  quite  incomprehensible  until 
it  is  understood.  Some  of  them  are  valuable  works  of  art.  They 
usually  represent  a  woman  and  child  in  the  foreground,  while  the 
savage  man  "  is  seen  crawling  in  the  distance.  St.  John  Chrysos- 
tom died  September  14,  a.  d.  407.  The  Greeks  keep  his  festival 
November  13th,  and  the  Latin  Church  the  27th  of  January. 

St.  John  Gualberto  {Ital.  San 
Giovanni  Gualberto;  Fr.  S.  Jean 
Gualbert  or  Calbert)  was  born  at 
Florence.  His  family  was  rich  and 
noble,  and  he  received  an  education 
befitting  his  rank.  He  had  but  one 
brother,  Hugo,  whom  he  passionately 
loved.  While  John  was  still  young, 
Hugo  was  slain  by  a  gentleman  with 
whom  he  had  a  quarrel.  John,  with 
the  consent  and  encouragement  of  his 
parents,  determined  to  pursue  the 
murderer  to  the  death.  It  happened 
that  on  Good  Friday,  at  evening,  as 
John  left  Florence  for  his  father's 
country-house,  he  took  the  road  which 
leads  to  the  Church  of  San-Miniato- 
del-Monte.  In  ascending  the  hill  he 
met  his  brother's  assassin,  and  drew 
his  sword  to  kill  him,  feeling  that  a 
just  God  had  thus  delivered  him  into 
his  hand.  The  wretched  man  fell  on 
his  knees,  imploring  mercy.  He  ex- 
tended his  hand  in  the  form  of  a 
cross,  and  reminded  John  that  Jesus 
had  died  on  that  praying  for  pardon 
to  his  murderers.  John  felt  himself 
moved  by  a  great  struggle,  and  the 
conflict  between  his  desire  for  re- 
venge and  his  wish  to  act  as  a  Chris- 
tian was  so  great  that  he  trembled 
from  head  to  foot.  But  at  length,  praying  to  God  for  strength,  he 
lifted  his  enemy,  and  embracing  him,  they  parted.  John,  over- 
powered with  emotion,  had  scarcely  strength  to  enter  the  church, 
where  he  knelt  before  the  crucifix  at  the  altar.  Here  he  wept 
bitterly,  and  all  the  horror  of  the  crime  he  had  been  about  to 


(F.  Angelico.)  St  John  Gualberto. 


160 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


commit  was  vividly  impressed  on  his  mind.  He  supplicated  for  par- 
don, and  as  he  raised  his  eyes  to  the  face  of  Jesus,  he  believed  that 
the  holy  head  was  bowed  in  token  of  his  forgiveness.  This  miracle 
completed  the  great  change  already  begun  in  him,  and  he  deter- 
mined to  leave  the  world.  He  took  the  Benedictine  habit,  and  en- 
tered the  monastery  of  San  Miniato.  When  the  abbot  died,  John 
was  elected  to  succeed  him,  but  he  would  not  accept  the  office,  and, 
leaving  the  convent,  retired  to  the  Yallombrosa,  in  the  Apen- 
nines, about  twenty  miles  from  San  Miniato.  At  first  he  had  but 
two  companions  in  his  retreat,  but  the  fame  of  his  sanctity  attracted 
numbers  to  him,  and  thus  originated  the  Order  of  Yallombrosa,  of 
which  this  saint  was  the  founder.  They  adopted  the  rule  of  St. 
Benedict,  but  revived  some  of  the  severities  which  had  fallen  into 
disuse,  and  instituted  others,  especially  that  of  silence.  The  pope 
confirmed  this  new  Order,  and  before  the  death  of  the  saint  twelve 
houses  were  filled  with  his  followers,  in  different  places.  The 
Church  of  the  Trinita  at  Florence  belonged  to  them,  and  in  it  is 
preserved  the  miraculous  crucifix  before  which  John  knelt  on  that 
memorable  Good  Friday  night.  The  ruins  of  the  monastery  of 
Salvi,  near  Florence,  which  was  of  the  Yallombrosa,  show  by  their 
extent  what  its  importance  must  have  been.  John  was  most  strict 
in  his  humility  and  simplicity,  and  was  so  shocked  at  the  way  in 
which  his  disciples  at  Moscetta  embellished  their  convent,  that  he 
prophesied  some  fearful  punishment  for  them.  Shortly  after  an  in- 
undation destroyed  a  large  part  of  their  buildings.  He  is  also  dis- 
tinguished for  his  determined  opposition  to  the  practice  of  simony, 
which  disgraced  the  Church  in  his  time.  Pietro  di  Pavia  had  pur- 
chased the  archbishopric  of  Florence.  He  was  a  man  of  notoriously 
bad  character.  John  denounced  him  publicly.  Pietro  sent  sol- 
diers to  burn  and  pillage  San  Salvi,  and  several  monks  were  mur- 
dered. Still  Gualberto  would  not  be  silent,  and  it  is  probable  that 
his  order  would  have  been  destroyed  by  the  powerful  wickedness  of 
Pietro,  had  not  one  of  the  monks,  called  Peter  Igneus,  demanded 
the  ordeal  by  fire.  He  stood  the  test  triumphantly,  and  the  arch- 
bishop was  deposed.  Several  miracles,  like  that  of  multiplying  the 
food  when  they  were  in  want,  are  attributed  to  this  saint.  The 
Yallombrosans  had  fine  libraries  and  many  v/orks  of  art,  before  they 
were  despoiled.  These  pictures  are  now  scattered  in  galleries. 
Cimabue  painted  his  famous  Madonna  for  them,  and  Andrea  del 
Sarto  his  Cenacolo.  Gualberto  meeting  the  murderer  is  represented 
in  a  little  tabernacle  which  has  been  erected  on  the  spot  where  the 
encounter  took  place.    July  12,  a.  d.  1073. 

St.  John  de  Matha  (^Sp,  San  Juan  de  Mata)  was  a  native  of 
Faucon  in  Provence.  He  was  born  in  1154,  and  his  parents  were 
of  noble  family.  Like  so  many  saints,  he  was  consecrated  to  God 
by  his  mother,  whose  name  was  Martha.    He  was  a  student  in  the 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


161 


University  at  Paris,  and  after  becoming  famous  for  liis  piety  was 
ordained  a  priest.  The  first  time  lie  celebrated  the  mass  he  had  a 
vision  of  an  angel,  whose  hands  crossed  over  each  other  rested  on 
the  heads  of  two  slaves  who  knelt  on  each  side  of  him.  On  the 
breast  of  the  white  robe  which  the  angel  wore,  was  a  cross  of  red 
and  blue.  Felix  de  Valois,  another  holy  man,  was  a  friend  of  the 
saint,  and  when  John  had  told  him  the  vision,  and  that  he  regarded 
it  as  an  intimation  from  heaven  that  he  was  to  labor  for  the  relief 
of  prisoners  and  captives,  the  two  determined  to  found  a  new  Order, 
having  this  labor  for  its  object.  It  was  called  "  The  Order  of  the 
Holy  Trinity  for  the  Redemption  of  Captives.'^  John  and  Felix- 
went  to  Rome  for  their  confirmation,  and  were  most  kindly  received, 
for  the  pope  had  also  had  a  vision  of  an  angel  with  two  captives 
chained,  one  of  which  was  a  Moor,  while  the  other  was  a  Christian, 
which  taught  that  all  races  and  religions  were  to  be  benefited  by 
this  new  brotherhood.  The  parent  institution  of  the  Order  was 
that  of  Cerfroy,  but  they  were  called  Mathurins,  and  had  a  monas- 
tery in  Paris  near  the  street  still  called  by  their  name.  At  Rome 
they  were  given  the  church  and.  convent  on  Monte  Celio,  so  beauti- 
fully situated,  and  from  the  ancient  bark  in  front  of  it  called,  S.  • 
Maria  della  Navicella.  Having  obtained  followers  and  money, 
John  sent  his  disciples,  and  went  himself  to  various  places  in  Africa 
and  Spain,  and  exchanged  and  ransomed  prisoners  and  brought 
them  home.  This  was  a  most  noble  work,  for  no  class  of  Chris- 
tians so  needed  assistance  as  those  who  had  been  made  prisoners 
and  then  slaves  during  the  fierce  wars  of  those  times.  He  had  de- 
livered hundreds,  when,  being  about  to  sail  with  one  hundred  and 
twenty  slaves,  the  infidels  became  furious  and  tore  up  his  sails  and 
broke  his  rudder.  But  he  used  his  mantle  and  those  of  his  disci- 
ples as  sails,  and  praying  God  to  be  his  pilot,  the  ship  was  quietly 
wafted  to  Ostia.  But  the  health  of  the  saint  was  so  feeble  that  he- 
was  not  able  to  go  even  to  Paris,  and  after  two  years  of  suffering  he 
died  at  Rome.    February  8,  A.  d.  1213. 

St.  John  Nepomuck.  {Ital.  San  Giovanni  Nepomuceno  ;  Ger, 
Heil.  Johannes  von  Nepomuk  ;  Sp,  San  Juan  Nepomuceno).  This 
saint  was  the  confessor  of  the  beautiful  and  good  Princess,  Joan 
of  Bavaria,  who  was  unfortunately  married  to  the  cruel  Wen- 
ceslaus  IV.  of  Germany.  John  knew  there  was  no  earthly  recom- 
pense for  such  woes  as  his  empress  endured,  and  he  earnestly  en- 
deavored to  so  lead  her  religiously,  that  she  might  suffer  with  pa- 
tience the  hardness  of  her  life.  At  length  Wenceslaus  commanded 
him  to  reveal  the  confession  of  the  empress.  This  he  refused  to  do, 
and  was  imprisoned  and  tortured  without  effect  on  his  silence.  At 
length  the  empress  by  prayers  and  tears  obtained  his  release.  She 
dressed  his  wounds  and  nursed  him  with  her  own  hands.  Then  he 
returned  to  court  and  preached  as  usual,  but  knowing  the  uncer- 
11 


162 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


taintv  of  liis  life  he  first  chose  the  text  "  Yet  a  little  while  and  ye 
shall  not  see  me."  He  endeavored  to  prepare  himself  and  all  who 
heard  for  death.  Not  long  after,  as  he  approached  the  palace,  the 
emperor  saw  him  from  the  window,  and  being  seized  with  one  of 
his  tempers,  he  ordered  him  brought  before  him.  Again  he  de- 
manded the  confession  of  the  empress.  The  saint  felt  his  end  near, 
and  kept  perfect  silence.  Then  the  emperor  commanded  the  guards 
to  throw  him  over  the  parapet  of  the  bridge  into  the  Moldau.  The 
legend  relates  that  as  he  sank  five  stars  hovered  over  the  spot ; 
which,  when  the  emperor  saw  them,  so  distracted  him  that  he  fled 
and  hid  for  some  time  in  the  fortress  of  Carlstein.  The  empress 
greatly  mourned,  and  the  people  carried  his  body  in  procession  to 
the  Church  of  the  Holy  Cross.  When  Prague  was  besieged  in 
1620,  it  is  believed  that  St.  John  Nepomuck  fought  with  his  people. 
The  empress  did  not  long  survive  her  faithful  friend  and  confessor. 
He  was  canon  regular  of  St.  Augustine.  He  is  patron  saint  of 
bridges  and  running  water  in  Austria  and  Bohemia.  His  statue 
stands  on  the  bridge  at  Prague  on  the  very  spot  where  he  was 
thrown  down.  Five  stars  are  his  proper  attribute.  Sometimes  he 
has  his  finger  on  his  mouth ;  sometimes  a  padlock  on  his  mouth  or 
in  liis  hand  in  token  of  silence.  He  is  patron  of  discretion  and  si- 
lence and  against  slander.    May  16,  A.  d.  1383. 

St.  John  and  St.  Paul  were  brothers  and  Roman  officers  in  the 
service  of  Constantia.  They  were  put  to  death  by  Julian  the  Apostate. 
Their  church  on  the  brow  of  the  Coelian  Hill  is  on  the  spot  where 
their  house  stood,  which  is  one  of  the  most  lovely  in  ancient  Rome. 
It  has  existed  since  499.  The  church  at  Venice  which  bears  their 
name  was  built  by  emigrants  from  the  convent  of  St.  John  and  St. 
Paul  at  Rome.  It  is  filled  with  most  interesting  monuments,  but 
none  exist  in  honor  of  these  saints.  In  art  they  are  always  repre- 
sented together,  and  their  attributes  are  the  military  dress  with  the 
sword.    June  26,  about  362. 

St.  Joseph  (^Lat.  Sanctus  Josephus ;  Ital.  San  Giuseppe ;  Fr. 
St.  Joseph;  Ger,  Der  Heilige  Josef).  Joseph  was  not  made  a  saint 
in  his  own  right  until  the  sixteenth  century,  and  all  his  glory  seems 
to  be  a  reflected  one,  coming  from  the  more  sacred  characters  with 
whom  he  was  so  intimately  associated.  The  great  honor  which  God 
conferred  upon  him  in  selecting  him  to  be  the  guardian  of  the  Virgin 
and  her  Divine  Son  is  sufiicient  proof  that  he  was  a  holy  man.  The 
Scripture  account  leads  us  to  conclude  that  he  was  gentle  and  tender 
as  well  as  just.  He  was  of  the  lineage  of  David  and  tribe  of  Judah 
—  a  carpenter,  and  dwelt  in  Nazareth.  This  is  the  sum  of  the  posi- 
tive knowledge  we  have  of  him.  Legends  are  the  source  of  all  other 
opinions  concerning  him.  In  these  there  is  great  difference  regard- 
ing his  age.  All  agree  that  he  was  a  widower  when  he  espoused 
Mary.    In  early  art  he  is  made  very  old,  and  some  monks  taught 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


163 


that  he  was  more  than  fourscore  at  the  time  of  his  second  marriage. 
In  later  years  he  has  been  represented  of  mature  middle-age,  strong 
and  able  to  fulfill  the  duty  of  providing  for  his  charge.  One  attri- 
bute of  age  has  however  been  handed  down  from  the  earliest  time, 
the  crutch  or  cane,  and  is  seldom  omitted.  The  legend  of  the  mar- 
riage of  Mary  and  Joseph  is  given  in  the  Protevangelion  and  History 
of  Joseph,  in  these  words :  "  When  Mary  was  fourteen  years  old,  the 
priest  Zacharias  (or  Abiathar,  as  he  is  elscAvhere  called)  inquired  of 
the  Lord  concerning  her,  what  was  right  to  be  done ;  and  an  angel 
came  to  him  and  said,  '  Go  forth  and  call  together  all  the  widowers 
among  the  people,  and  let  each  bring  his  rod  (or  wand)  in  his  hand, 
and  he  to  whom  the  Lord  shall  show  a  sign,  let  him  be  the  husband 
of  Mary.'  And  Zacharias  did  as  the  angel  commanded,  and  made 
proclamation  accordingly.  And  Joseph  the  carpenter,  a  righteous 
man,  throwing  down  his  axe,  and  taking  his  stalf  in  his  hand,  ran 
out  with  the  rest.  When  he  appeared  before  the  priest,  and  pre- 
sented his  rod,  lo !  a  dove  issued  out  of  it,  a  dove  dazzling  white  as 
snow,  and  after  settling  on  his  head,  flew  toward  heaven.  Then 
the  high-priest  said  to  him,  '  Thou  art  the  person  chosen  to  take  the 
Virgin  of  the  Lord,  and  to  keep  her  for  Him.*  And  Joseph  was  at 
first  afraid,  and  drew  back,  but  afterward  he  took  her  home  to  his 
house,  and  said  to  her,  '  Behold,  I  have  taken  thee  from  the  Temple 
of  the  Lord,  and  now  I  will  leave  thee  in  my  house,  for  I  must  go 
and  follow  my  trade  of  building.  I  will  return  to  thee,  and  mean- 
while the  Lord  be  with  thee  and  watch  over  thee.*  So  Joseph  left 
her,  and  Mary  remained  in  her  house."  Jerome  makes  a  difference 
which  artists  have  followed.  He  relates  that  among  the  suitors  for 
Mary  was  the  son  of  the  high-priest,  and  that  they  all  deposited 
their  wands  in  the  Temple  over  night.  Next  morning  Joseph's  rod 
had  blossomed.  The  others  in  their  disappointment  broke  their 
wands  and  trampled  on  them,  while  one,  Agabus,  who  was  of  noble 
race,  fled  to  Mt.  Carmel  and  became  an  anchorite.  In  many  pictures 
the  espousals  take  place  in  the  open  air,  and  various  places  outside 
the  Temple,  having  no  appearance  of  the  sacrament  of  marriage. 
This  is  explained  by  the  truth  that  among  the  Jews  marriage  was  a 
civil  contract  rather  than  a  religious  ceremony.  Many  believe  that 
Joseph  was  in  reality  only  the  guardian  of  Mary.  His  next  appear- 
ance, in  the  legends,  is  on  the  journey  to  Bethlehem.  The  way,  so 
long  and  weary  to  the  suffering  Virgin,  is  described,  and  the  Prote- 
vangelion tells  that  "  when  Joseph  looked  back,  he  saw  the  face  of 
Mary,  that  it  was  sorrowful,  as  of  one  in  pain  ;  but  when  he  looked 
back  again  she  smiled.  And  when  they  were  come  to  Bethlehem 
there  was  no  room  for  them  in  the  inn,  because  of  the  great  con- 
course of  people.  And  Mary  said  to  Joseph,  '  Take  me  down,  for  I 
suffer.' "  Another  legend  relates  that  Joseph  sought  a  midwife,  but 
when  he  returned  with  her  to  the  stable  Mary  was  sitting  with  her 


164 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


infant  on  her  knees,  and  the  place  was  filled  with  a  light  far  brighter 
than  that  of  noonday.  And  the  Hebrew  woman  in  amazement  said, 
"  Can  this  be  true  ?  "  And  Mary  replied,  "  It  is  true  :  as  there  is 
no  child  like  unto  my  son,  so  there  is  no  woman  like  unto  his 
mother."  Four  times  God  sent  angelic  messengers  to  guide  Joseph 
in  the  execution  of  his  important  mission.  First,  he  assured  him  of 
the  purity  of  Mary,  and  that  he  need  fear  nothing  in  taking  her  to 
wife.  The  legends  say  that  after  waking  from  this  vision,  he  "  en- 
treated forgiveness  of  Mary  for  having  wronged  her  even  in  thought." 
The  second  dream  commanded  him  to  flee  into  Egypt.  The  pic- 
tures of  the  Flight,  and  of  the  Eepose,  which  is  an  incident  of  the 
flight,  represent  the  watchful  care  of  Joseph.  The  duration  of  the 
sojourn  in  Egypt  is  differently  given,  and  ranges  from  two  to  seven 
years.  The  third  vision  told  Joseph  to  return  to  Judsea,  and  a  fourth 
guided  him  on  the  journey.  After  the  return  to  Nazareth,  Joseph  is 
only  associated  with  a  quiet,  industrious  life,  and  the  training  of  his 
foster-son  to  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  The  time  of  Joseph's  death 
is  also  a  disputed  point.  Some  assert  that  it  occurred  when  Jesus 
was  eighteen  years  old,  while  some  make  it  nine  years  later.  One 
of  the  most  interesting  accounts  of  this  event  is  found  in  an  Arabian 
history  of  Joseph  the  Carpenter.  Jesus  is  supposed  to  relate  it  to 
his  disciples.  He  tells  that  Joseph  acknowledged  him  as  the  "  Re- 
deemer and  Messiah,"  and  speaks  thus  of  Mary :  "  And  my  mother, 
the  Virgin,  arose,  and  she  came  nigh  to  me  and  said,  '  O  my  beloved 
Son,  now  must  the  good  old  man  die  ! '  And  I  answered,  and  said 
unto  her,  '  O  my  most  dear  mother,  needs  must  all  created  beings 
die ;  and  Death  will  have  his  rights,  even  over  thee,  beloved  mother, 
but  death  to  him  and  to  thee  is  no  death,  only  the  passage  to  eternal 
life ;  and  this  body  I  have  derived  from  thee  shall  also  undergo 
death.'"  Then  after  giving  an  account  of  the  death  scene,  he  says, 
I  and  my  mother  Mary,  we  wept  with  them,"  alluding  to  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  Joseph  who  were  about  him  weeping.  Then  fol- 
lows an  account  of  a  struggle  between  good  and  bad  spirits  for  the 
soul  of  Joseph,  but  at  last  Gabriel  comes  to  clothe  it  with  a  robe  of 
brightness  and  bear  it  to  heaven.  On  account  of  this  triumphant 
end,  Joseph  came  to  be  invoked  as  the  patron  of  death-beds.  His 
death  is  often  represented  in  family  chapels  which  are  consecrated  to 
the  dead.  The  twentieth  of  July  had  been  observed  in  the  East 
with  great  solemnity  as  the  anniversary  of  Joseph's  death  for  many 
years  before  he  was  popular  in  the  West.  It  was  the  custom  to  read 
publicly  homilies  upon  his  life  and  death,  and  many  of  them  are  very 
curious  and  ancient,  dating  from  the  fourth  century  in  some  cases. 
There  is  great  significance  in  the  different  modes  of  representing 
this  saint,  and  in  the  attributes  given  him.  He  regards  Mary  with 
veneration  mingled  with  tender  care  and  thoughtfulness.  In  the 
pictures  of  the  Nativity,  the  Adoration  of  the  Magi,  and  in  many 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


165 


Holy  Families,  he  is  in  an  attitude  of  quiet  and  contemplative  admi- 
ration ;  and  while  treated  with  dignity  is  never  made  an  imj)ortant 
point  in  the  picture.  In  the  flight  and  repose  in  Egypt  he  is  the 
caretaker  and  guide,  and  the  importance  of  his  trust  is  made  appar- 
ent. He  sometimes  holds  the  Infant  or  bears  him  in  his  arms,  in 
token  of  his  high  office  of  providing  for  him,  and  at  the  same  time 
carries  a  lily,  the  emblem  of  chastity,  or  his  budded  rod,  in  token  of 
the  purity  of  the  relation  between  himself  and  Mary.  Sometimes  he 
gathers  dates,  leads  the  ass  which  bears  the  Virgin  and  Child,  and 
carries  the  wallet  and  staff  of  the  pilgrim.  When  he  kneels  before 
the  Infant  and  presents  a  flower,  it  is  an  act  of  homage  on  the  part 
of  the  saint.  His  dress  should  be  a  gray  tunic  and  saffron-colored 
mantle.    March  19. 

St.  Jovita  or  Giovita.    See  St.  Faustinus. 

St.  Juan  de  Dios  was  the  founder  of  the  Order  of  the  Hospi- 
tallers or  Brothers  of  Charity ;  in  fact  he  may  be  said  to  be  that  of 
the  same  class  of  institutions  in  all  countries.  Our  own  hospitals 
and  asylums  for  the  poor,  the  Maisons  de  Charite  "  of  France, 
the  "  Barmherzigen  Briider "  of  Germany,  the  "  Misericordia  "  of 
Italy,  and  the  "  Caritad  "  of  Spain.  He  was  the  son  of  poverty, 
born  in  Monte-Mayor,  Portugal,  in  1495.  He  Had  no  education,  but 
was  piously  reared  by  his  mother.  When  Juan  was  but  nine  years 
old  he  was  so  charmed  by  the  stories  of  a  priest  who  was  enter- 
tained by  his  parents,  and  who  had  travelled  far  and  wide,  that  he 
went  away  with  him  without  the  knowledge  of  his  family.  The 
priest  for  some  reason  abandoned  him,  and  he  was  left  utterly  alone 
in  Oropesa,  a  village  of  Castile.  He  entered  the  service  of  a 
shepherd,  where  he  remained  until  he  entered  the  army.  He  was 
reckless  and  dissipated  as  a  soldier,  and  yet  at  times  was  greatly 
moved  by  recollections  of  the  piety  of  his  mother  and  the  lessons  of 
his  childhood.  He  met  with  many  adventures,  and  narrowly  es- 
caped death  from  wounds  and  accidents.  Being  set  to  guard  some 
booty  taken  from  the  enemy,  he  fell  asleep,  and  the  prize  was  car- 
ried off.  His  commanding  officer  ordered  him  hanged  on  the  spot, 
but  after  the  rope  was  around  his  neck,  a  superior  officer  who 
chanced  to  pass  released  him  on  the  condition  that  he  should  leave 
the  camp.  He  returned  to  his  old  occupation  in  Oropesa,  but  his 
restless  mind  gave  him  no  peace,  and  in  1532  he  joined  the  troops 
raised  for  the  Hungarian  war.  At  the  end  of  the  strife  he  returned 
to  his  native  place,  making  a  pilgrimage  to  Compostella  on  his  way. 
Here  he  was  so  seized  with  remorse,  when  he  learned  that  his  par- 
ents had  died  of  grief  for  his  desertion  of  them,  that  his  reason 
was  impaired.  Having  no  money  he  became  the  shejDherd  of  a 
rich  lady  near  Seville.  Here  he  gave  much  time  to  meditation  and 
prayer,  and  determined  to  do  some  good  in  order  to  atone  as  much 
as  possible  for  his  past  sins.    He  remembered  the  sad  and  wretched 


166 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


condition  of  the  poor,  and  of  captives  and  prisoners,  of  whom  he 
had  seen  many  during  his  wanderings.  At  length  he  determined  to 
devote  himself  to  their  relief,  and  even,  if  possible,  to  be  a  martyr. 
He  went  to  Gibraltar,  and  there  saw  a  Portui>;uese  noble,  who,  with 
his  family  were  exiled  to  Ceuta  in  Africa.  He  entered  the  service 
of  these  distressed  people.  They  suffered  much  from  sickness  and 
poverty,  and  Juan  became  their  only  support.  He  hired  himself  as 
a  laborer  and  toiled  for  them  until  they  received  aid  elsewhere. 
Then  returning  to  Spain  he  travelled  about,  selling  religious  books 
and  j)ictures,  and  doing  all  in  his  power  for  the  poor  until  he  was 
told  in  a  vision,  "  Go,  thou  shalt  bear  the  cross  in  Granada."  The 
miraculous  bearer  of  this  message  was  a  radiant  child  who  held  a 
pomo-de-Granada  (pomegranate)  in  his  hand.  Juan  came  into 
Granada  at  the  time  of  the  celebration  of  Saint  Sebastian's  festi- 
val. He  was  already  much  excited  in  mind,  and  the  additional  ef- 
fect of  the  enthusiasm  of  a  famous  preacher  who  was  there  drove 
him  to  frenzy.  He  was  taken  to  a  mad-house,  and,  as  the  custom 
was,  scourged  each  day  until  the  blood  flowed  freely  from  his 
wounds.  The  same  preacher  referred  to  was  filled  with  pity  for 
him,  and  by  patient  attendance  restored  him  to  reason  and  liberty. 
He  obtained  a  little  shed  for  his  home,  and  here  founded  the  first 
Hospital  for  Charity,  for  he  commenced  the  practice  of  bringing  here 
the  most  wretched  ones  he  could  find,  and  of  begging  for  their  support. 
At  first  he  could  provide  for  but  two  or  three,  but  would  himself  lay 
outside  on  the  ground  for  the  sake  of  caring  for  an  additional  one. 
Soon  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  large  circular  building,  in  the 
centre  of  Avhich  was  kept  a  great  fire,  and  here  he  often  gathered 
two  hundred  homeless  wretches.  He  gave  up  the  idea  of  martyr- 
dom, and  devoted  himself  with  wonderful  zeal  to  the  relief  of  the 
misery  about  him.  He  made  no  rules  for  any  Order,  and  does  not 
appear  to  have  contemplated  the  establishment  of  one,  and  yet  he 
"bequeathed  to  Christendom  one  of  the  noblest  of  all  its  religious 
institutions.  In  France  he  has  the  title  of  "  le  bienheureux  Jean  de 
Dieu,  Pere  des  Pauvres."  His  proper  attributes  are  the  pomegran- 
ate and  cross.  Often  he  is  painted  with  a  beggar  kneeling  before 
him.  "  The  Charity  of  San  Juan  de  Dios,"  painted  by  Murillo  for 
the  Church  of  the  "  Caritad  "  at  Seville,  represents  him  staggering 
beneath  the  burden  of  a  dying  beggar,  whom  he  is  bearing  through 
a  storm  to  his  hospital.  It  is  said  that  few  behold  this  picture  with- 
out tears.    March  8,  a.  d.  1550. 

St.  Juan  de  la  Cruz.  He  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  Stirling  as  "  A 
holy  man  who  was  frequently  favored  with  interviews  with  our 
Saviour,  and  who,  on  one  of  these  occasions,  made  an  uncouth 
sketch  of  the  Divine  apparition,  which  was  long  preserved  as  a  relic 
in  the  convent  of  the  Incarnation  at  Avila."  He  was  the  first  bare- 
footed Carmelite,  and  is  famous  for  his  terrible  austerities  and  pen- 


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167 


ances.  He  was  the  ally  of  St.  Theresa  in  all  her  reforms,  and  is 
frequently  represented  with  her.  Books  with  the  titles  of  his  writ- 
ings are  often  introduced  into  his  pictures.  November  24,  A.  d. 
1591. 

Judas  Iscariot  (Ital.  Giuda  Scariota;  Fr.  Judas  Iscariote). 
The  silence  of  the  Gospel  concerning  the  life  of  Judas  before  he 
became  a  disciple  is  more  than  filled  by  the  legends  of  the  Middle 
Ages.  They  relate  that  he  was  of  the  tribe  of  Reuben,  and  that  liis 
mother  dreamed  before  his  birth  that  he  would  murder  his  father, 
commit  incest  with  his  mother,  and  betray  his  God  for  money.  Hor- 
rified at  this  prospect,  his  parents  determined  that  he  should  not 
live  to  fulfill  such  prophecies,  so  they  put  him  in  a  chest  and  threw 
it  in  the  sea,  but  the  chest  was  washed  on  shore  and  the  child  taken 
by  a  certain  king  and  reared  as  his  son.  This  king  had  a  son 
whom  Judas  hated  from  the  natural  ugliness  of  his  disposition.  At 
length  he  killed  him  in  a  quarrel  and  fled  to  Judsea  and  was  employed 
as  a  page  by  Pontius  Pilate,  who  was  attracted  by  the  comeliness  of 
his  person.  In  course  of  time  he  fulfills  the  dreadful  prophecies  re- 
garding his  parents,  and  at  length  learns  from  his  mother  the  secret 
of  his  birth.  He  is  filled  Avith  horror  of  himself,  and  having  heard 
of  the  power  of  Christ  to  forgive  sins,  he  seeks  to  become  his  fol- 
lower. Jesus  received  him,  knowing  all,  in  order  that  the  destined 
betrayal  should  take  place.  He  now  adds  avarice  to  his  other  vices, 
and  becomes  so  completely  corrupt  as  to  fit  him  for  the  end.  The 
bribery,  betrayal,  repentance,  and  death  follow  according  to  the 
Scripture  account.  His  repentance  is  in  some  cases  most  vividly 
portrayed.  Remorse  is  made  a  real  person  who  seizes  and  torments 
him  until  he  invokes  Despair,  who  brings  to  him  all  kinds  of  imple- 
ments of  death  and  bids  him  choose  from  them.  He  is  represented, 
too,  with  an  imp  upon  his  shoulder,  figuring  the  Satan  that  entered 
into  him.  The  Mohammedans  believe  that  Christ  ascended  alive  into 
heaven,  and  that  Judas  was  crucified  in  his  likeness.  But  his  death 
has  been  variously  represented  in  art.  Those  who  have  painted  him 
as  hanging  with  his  bowels  gushing  out  have  seemingly  made  a  mis- 
take. The  more  reasonable  version  is,  that  having  hanged  himself 
he  fell,  and  from  the  fall  he  "  burst  asunder."  One  tradition  is  that 
he  was  found  hanging  and  thrown  over  the  parapet  of  the  Tem- 
ple and  dashed  in  pieces.  Expression  has  been  given  to  the  wildest 
imaginations  concerning  him.  An  old  miniature  makes  demons  toss 
his  soul  from  hand  to  hand  like  a  ball.  The  horror  of  this  restless- 
ness is  a  fearful  thought.  The  bursting  asunder  "  was  considered 
a  special  judgment,  in  order  that  his  soul  should  escape  from  his 
bowels,  and  not  be  breathed  out  through  the  lips  that  had  betrayed 
Christ.  The  idea  is  represented  by  a  demon  taking  the  soul,  in  the 
usual  form  of  a  little  child,  from  the  bowels.  The  ugliness  of  per- 
son and  expression  given  to  Judas  in  pictures  appeals  to  our  feeling, 


168 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


although  not  in  harmony  with  the  legend.  And  it  does  not  seem 
that  such  a  man  would  have  been  allowed  in  the  company  of  the 
twelve.  The  proper  color  for  him  is  a  dirty  yellow.  At  Venice 
the  Jews  were  formerly  compelled  to  wear  hats  of  this  Judas  color, 
while  in  Spain  and  Italy  malefactors  and  galley  slaves  are  clothed 
in  it. 

St.  Jude.   See  St.  Simon. 

Judith  and  Holofernes.  In  the  seventeenth  year  of  the  reign 
of  Nabuchodonosor,  king  of  Nineveh,  he  went  out  to  battle  with  King 
Arphaxad  of  Ecbatane ;  and  he  sent  to  all  the  people  round  that 
they  should  join  his  army  and  help  him  to  conquer  the  Medes.  But 
the  people  scorned  the  commands  of  Nabuchodonosor,  and  did  not 
join  his  army.  Then  was  he  wroth,  and  he  swore  to  destroy  those 
nations  which  would  not  acknowledge  him  for  the  king  of  the  whole 
earth.  So  he  sent  Holofernes,  who  was  the  chief  captain  of  the 
army  of  the  Assyrians,  and  gave  him  commands  to  go  forth  and 
destroy  the  cities  and  exterminate  the  people  who  had  scorned  his 
authority.  Holofernes  did  so ;  and  when  he  came  to  the  city  of 
Bethulia  he  sat  down  before  it  to  besiege  it.  And  he  was  advised 
not  to  attack  the  city,  which  was  so  high  up  in  the  mountains  as  to 
be  almost  impregnable,  but  to  seize  the  fountain  outside  the  city 
and  thus  cut  off  their  water,  so  that  the  people  of  Bethulia  would  fall 
dead  in  their  own  streets  from  thirst.  Holofernes  received  this  advice, 
and  seized  the  fountain.  Now  when  all  the  water  in  the  city  was 
gone,  the  women  and  children  began  to  drop  with  faintness,  and  the 
men  were  ready  to  perish ;  then  came  they  to  Ozias,  the  chief  of  the 
city,  and  they  said  it  is  better  that  we  deliver  us  uj)  to  the  Assyrians 
than  that  we  die  thus ;  and  Ozias  reasoned  with  them  that  God 
would  deliver  them,  but  they  would  not  hearken.    Then  Ozias  said, 

Let  us  wait  five  days,  and  if  God  does  not  send  rain  to  fill  our 
cisterns,  neither  deliver  us  in  any  other  way,  then  we  will  deliver  us 
up  to  the  enemy."  Now  there  was  in  Bethulia  a  widow,  Judith,  and 
she  was  exceeding  beautiful  and  very  pious.  She  had  been  a  widow 
three  years  and  four  months,  and  she  had  "  fasted  all  the  days  of  her 
widowhood,  save  the  eves  of  the  Sabbaths  and  the  eves  of  the  new 
moons,  and  the  feasts  and  the  solemn  days  of  the  house  of  Israel." 
She  was  moreover  very  rich  in  lands  and  servants,  cattle  and  money, 
and  beautiful  apparel  and  jewels.  Now  she  was  thought  very  wise, 
and  her  opinion  greatly  esteemed.  She  did  not  approve  of  the 
decision  of  the  people,  and  told  Ozias  and  the  other  chief  men  that 
they  had  done  wrong ;  that  God  was  not  a  man  that  his  counsels 
should  be  limited  or  a  time  set  for  him  to  deliver  them  ;  and  she  said 
she  would  go  forth  out  of  the  city  with  her  waiting  woman,  and  that 
before  the  time  they  had  promised  to  deliver  up  the  city  should  come, 
God  would  give  their  enemies  into  her  hand.  So  she  went  and 
prayed  God  to  be  with  her ;  to  allow  her  to  sway  the  heart  of  Holo- 


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169 


femes  by  the  pleasant  words  she  would  speak,  and  by  the  sight  of 
her  beauty.  Then  she  put  off  her  widow's  garments,  and  she  dressed 
herself  in  the  apparel  which  she  wore  in  the  days  of  Manasses  her 
husband ;  she  plaited  her  hair,  and  put  a  tire  upon  it,  "  and  she  took 
sandals  upon  her  feet,  and  put  about  her  her  bracelets,  and  her 
chains,  and  her  rings,  and  all  her  ornaments,  and  decked  herself 
bravely,  to  allure  the  eyes  of  all  men  that  should  see  her."  And 
when  she  had  taken  wine  and  figs  and  bread  and  parched  corn,  she 
put  them  in  a  bag  and  gave  to  her  waiting  woman,  and  they  pro- 
ceeded to  the  gate  of  the  city ;  and  Ozias  and  all  who  saw  her  won- 
dered at  her  great  and  dazzling  beauty.  So  went  she  forth ;  and 
when  she  was  come  to  the  camp  of  Holofernes,  those  who  saw  her 
admired  her  greatly,  and  they  took  her  to  their  captain  with  great 
honor.  Now  when  Holofernes  saw  her,  from  that  moment  he  desired 
to  have  her ;  but  he  questioned  her  of  herself,  and  why  she  had  thus 
come.  Then  she  told  him  that  her  people  were  wicked,  in  that  they 
did  not  submit  to  his  command,  and  that  to  this  sin  they  were  about 
to  add  that  of  drinking  the  wine  which  had  been  kept  for  the  use  of 
the  Temple,  and  that  she,  foreseeing  the  destruction  which  must  come 
for  all  tliis  sin,  had  sought  his  presence;  she  added  that  she  would 
remain  with  him,  going  out  each  night  into  the  valley  to  pray,  and 
that  when  the  wicked  designs  of  her  people  were  accomplished,  she 
would  tell  him,  and  then  he  could  go  forth  with  his  army  and  con- 
quer them  without  difficulty.  So  she  remained,  and  Holofernes 
offered  her  food ;  but  she  said,  "  I  will  not  eat  thereof,  lest  there  be 
an  offense ;  but  provision  shall  be  made  for  me  of  the  things  that  I 
have  brought."  And  when  he  said  "  If  thy  provision  should  fail  ?  " 
she  answered,  ^'  As  thy  soul  liveth,  my  lord,  thine  handmaid  shall 
not  spend  those  things  that  I  have,  before  the  Lord  work  by  mine 
hand  the  things  that  he  hath  determined."  So  he  gave  her  a  tent, 
and  she  and  her  waiting  woman  dwelt  there,  going  out  each  night 
into  the  valley.  Now  on  the  fourth  day  Holofernes  made  a  feast  for 
his  own  servants,  and  called  none  of  his  officers  to  it.  And  he  sent 
Bagoas,  the  eunuch  who  had  charge  of  all  that  he  had,  to  invite 
Judith  to  this  feast ;  and  she  arose  and  decked  herself  and  went. 

Now  when  Judith  came  in  and  sat  down,  Holofernes  his  heart  was 
ravished  with  her,  and  his  mind  was  moved,  and  he  desired  greatly 
her  company ;  for  he  waited  a  time  to  deceive  her,  from  the  day  that 
he  had  seen  her."  Then  Holofernes  urged  her  to  eat  and  drink, 
which  she  did,  such  things  as  her  maid  prepared  for  her ;  and  she 
said,  "  I  will  drink  now,  my  lord,  because  my  life  is  magnified  in  me 
this  day,  more  than  all  the  days  since  I  was  born."  "  Holofernes 
took  great  delight  in  her,  and  drank  much  more  wine  than  he  had 
drank  at  any  time  in  one  day  since  he  was  born."  At  last  when 
evening  was  come  the  servants  retired,  and  Bagoas  shut  the  tent, 
and  Judith  was  alone  with  Holofernes,  and  he  was  drunk  with  the 


170 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


wine.  Then  Judith,  praying  to  God  to  assist  her,  took  down  his 
fauchion  which  was  at  his  head,  and  she  took  hold  of  the  hair  of  his 
head  and  said,  "  Strengthen  me,  O  Lord  God  of  Israel,  this  day." 
And  she  smote  him  twice  upon  his  neck,  and  took  away  his  head. 
Then  she  pulled  down  the  canopy,  and  went  forth  and  gave  the  head 
to  her  maid,  and  she  put  it  in  her  meat  bag,  and  they  went  forth 
into  the  valley  as  was  their  custom.  But  now  they  kept  on  till  they 
came  to  Bethulia ;  and  Judith  called  to  the  watchman  when  they 
were  still  afar  off.  And  when  her  voice  was  heard,  all  the  city 
hastened  to  hear  what  news  she  might  bring.  And  she  commanded 
them  to  praise  God,  and  showed  them  the  head  of  Holofernes,  and 
the  silken  canopy.  Then  Judith  gave  an  order  that  they  should 
hang  the  head  on  the  highest  part  of  the  wall,  and  when  the  morn- 
ing should  come  every  man  should  take  his  weapon  and  go  forth  as 
if  to  battle ;  then  the  Assyrians  would  go  to  the  tent  of  Holofernes, 
and  fear  should  fall  upon  them,  and  they  would  flee  before  the  men 
of  Bethulia.  And  it  was  all  as  she  said.  Now  when  Bagoas  knocked 
at  the  door  of  the  tent,  he  had  no  answer  —  he  went  not  in,  for  he 
thought  that  Holofernes  had  slept  Avith  Judith  —  but  when  he  could 
hear  no  one  he  entered  and  found  the  body  from  which  the  head  had 
been  cut  away.  Then  was  the  Assyrian  camp  filled  with  dismay, 
and  they  "  fled  into  every  way  of  the  plain  and  of  the  hill  country." 
And  the  children  of  Israel  fell  upon  them  and  smote  them  and  chased 
them  beyond  Damascus.  And  the  tent  of  Holofernes  with  all  its 
rich  appointments  they  gave  to  Judith ;  and  the  men  of  Bethulia 
spoiled  the  camp  of  the  Assyrians.  Then  Judith  sang  a  song  of  tri- 
umph ;  and  she  went  to  Jerusalem  and  gave  the  tent  and  all  its 
belongings  to  the  sanctuary,  and  they  feasted  there  for  three  months. 
And  Judith  lived  to  be  one  hundred  and  five  years  old ;  but  she 
would  not  marry,  though  many  desired  her.  And  the  people  of 
Israel  esteemed  her  according  to  her  worth,  and  when  she  died  they 
of  Bethulia  mourned  her  seven  days,  and  buried  her  by  the  side  of 
her  husband,  Manasses. 

St.  Julia  (i^r.  Sainte  Julie ;  Ital.  Santa  Giulia)  was  a  noble 
virgin,  who  is  often  represented  with  the  Brescian  saints.  She  was 
martyred  at  Corsica,  and  her  relics  carried  to  Brescia,  where  a 
church  and  convent  were  dedicated  to  her.  She  is  painted  young, 
lovely,  and  richly  attired.     She  died  in  the  fifth  century.    May  22. 

Julian  the  Apostate.  Julian,  Flavins  Claudius,  Emperor  of 
Rome,  nephew  of  Constantine  the  Great.  Famous  for  his  attempt  to 
reestablish  Paganism.  Born  at  Constantinople  in  331,  died  of  a 
wound  received  in  battle  near  Ctesiphon,  when  fighting  against  Sa- 
por, king  of  Persia,  being  thirty-two  years  old.  When  young  he 
was  kept  in  obscurity  by  his  cousin  Constantius,  from  jealousy.  He 
was  first  taught  by  Christian  bishops,  and  was  then  a  pupil  of  the 
school  at  Athens,  and  intimately  associated  with  men  distinguished 


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171 


for  wonderful  piety  and  learning.  It  is  said  that  lie  revolted  from 
the  Church  on  account  of  its  intolerance  of  philosophy.  But  if  he 
hated  intolerance,  how  must  he  have  hated  himself!  for  he  persecuted 
those  he  called  persecutors,  and  became  a  fanatic  in  his  opposition  to 
religion.    For  the  legend  of  his  death,  see  St.  Mercurius. 

St.  Julian  Hospitator  {ItaL  San  Giuliano  Ospitale  ;  Fr.  St.  Ju- 
lien  I'Hospitalier)  was  a  count  and  lived  in  great  state.  He  hunted 
and  feasted  continually.  One  day  as  he  pursued  a  deer  it  turned  on 
him  and  said,  Thou  who  pursuest  me  to  the  death,  shalt  cause  the 
death  of  thy  father  and  thy  mother  !  "  He  stopped  alfriglited,  and 
resolved  to  flee  from  his  parents  in  order  not  to  fulfill  the  proj^hecy. 
So  he  went  into  a  far  country.  The  king  of  this  country  received 
him  kindly  and  gave  him  a  rich  and  lovely  widow  for  his  wife,  with 
whom  he  lived  so  happily  as  to  forget  his  home  and  the  prophecy. 
But  his  father  and  mother  had  put  on  the  attire  of  pilgrims  and  set 
out  to  find  their  son.  Now  while^Julian  was  absent  at  court,  they 
arrived  at  his  house,  and  Basilissa,  his  wife,  showed  them  every  kind- 
ness, and  put  them  in  her  own  bed  to  sleep.  The  next  morning 
while  she  was  gone  to  church  to  thank  God  for  having  brought  them 
to  her,  Julian  returned.  He  entered  his  chamber,  and  in  the  dim 
light  saw  two  people  in  bed,  and  one  of  them  a  bearded  man.  Seized 
with  furious  jealousy  he  drew  his  sword  and  slew  them  both.  Bush- 
ing out  he  met  his  wife.  Astonished,  he  asked  who  was  in  his  bed, 
and  hearing  the  truth  was  as  one  dead.  He  then  wept  bitterly,  and 
exclaimed,  "  Alas  !  by  what  evil  fortune  is  this,  that  what  I  sought 
to  avoid  has  come  to  pass  ?  Farewell,  my  sweet  sister  !  I  can  never 
again  lie  by  thy  side,  until  I  have  been  pardoned  by  Christ  Jesus  for 
this  great  sin  !  "  But  she  replied,  Nay,  my  brother,  can  I  allow 
thee  to  depart,  and  without  me  ?  Thy  grief  is  my  grief,  and  whither 
thou  goest  I  will  go."  So  they  travelled  till  they  came  to  a  stream 
swollen  by  mountain  torrents  in  which  many  who  tried  to  cross  were 
drowned.  Here  Julian  built  a  cell  for  himself  and  a  hospital  for  the 
poor.  And  he  constantly  ferried  the  travellers  over  the  river  with- 
out reward.  At  length  one  stormy  night  in  winter,  when  it  seemed 
that  no  boat  could  cross  the  stream,  he  heard  a  sad  cry  from  the  op- 
posite bank.  He  went  over  and  found  a  youth  who  was  a  leper  dy- 
ing fi:'om  cold  and  weariness.  In  spite  of  his  disease  he  carried  him 
over  and  bore  him  in  his  arms  to  his  own  bed,  and  he  and  Basilissa 
tended  him  till  morning,  when  the  leper  rose  up  and  his  face  was 
transformed  into  that  of  an  angel,  and  he  said,  "Julian,  the  Lord 
hath  sent  me  to  thee,  for  thy  penitence  is  accepted,  and  thy  rest  is 
near  at  hand."  And  he  vanished  from  sight.  Then  Julian  and  his 
wife  fell  down  and  praised  God  for  his  mercies,  and  soon  they  died, 
for  they  were  old,  and  full  of  good  works.  He  is  patron  saint  of 
ferrymen  and  boatmen,  of  travellers  and  of  wandering  minstrels. 
His  dress  should  be  that  of  a  hermit ;  his  attribute  a  stag,  which 


172 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


may  be  distinguished  from  that  of  St.  Hubert  by  the  absence  of  the 
crucifix  betAveen  the  horns.    January  9,  A.  D.  313. 

St.  Julian  of  Rimini  was  of  Cihcia,  and  but  httle  is  known  of 
him  beyond  the  fact  that  he  endured  a  prolonged  martyrdom  with  un- 
failing courage.  Of  this  St.  Chrysostom  writes.  He  is  represented 
as  young  and  graceful  —  melancholy.  He  is  richly  dressed,  and  car- 
ries the  palm,  the  standard  of  victory,  and  the  sword.    March  16. 

Julian.  There  are  twelve  saints  of  this  name,  but  the  two  given 
above  are  the  most  important,  and  most  frequently  represented  in  art. 


(Murillo.)    St.  Justa  and  St.  Rufina. 

St.  Justa  or  Justina  and  St.  Rufina,  patronesses  of  Seville. 
These  were  the  daughters  of  a  potter  of  Seville.  They  sold  earthen- 
ware, and  gave  away  all  they  made  after  supplying  their  bare  neces- 
sities. Some  women  went  to  buy  of  them  some  vessels  to  be  used  in 
the  worship  of  Venus.  They  answered  that  they  would  not  sell  them 
for  that  purpose,  when  the  women  broke  all  their  ware,  and  the  pop- 
ulace seized  them  and  bore  them  to  the  prefect,  but  not  until  they 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


173 


had  destroyed  the  image  of  Yenus.  They  were  condemned  to  the 
torture.  Justa  died  on  the  rack,  and  Rufina  was  strangled.  The 
Giralda  is  their  especial  care,  and  it  was  believed  that  this  beautiful 
tower  was  preserved  by  them  in  the  terrible  thunder-storm  of  1504. 
They  are  sometimes  painted  as  muchachas  (or  of  the  lower  class), 
and  sometimes  beautifully  attired.  They  always  bear  palms  and 
alcarrazas,  or  earthen  pots.    July  19,  A.  D.  304. 

St.  Justina  of  Antioch.  See  St.  Cyprian.  September  26,  a.  d. 
304. 

St.  Justina  of  Padua  (Lat.  Sancta  Justina  Patavina  Urbis  Pro- 
tectrix ;  Ital.  Santa  Giustina  di  Padova  ;  Fr.  Sainte  Justine  de  Pa- 
doue)  was  a  daughter  of  King  Yitalicino,  who  was  a  Christian,  and 
brought  up  his  child  in  the  same  faith.  After  the  death  of  her  father 
she  was  accused  before  the  Emperor  Maximian,  who  ordered  her  death 
by  the  sword.  She  opened  her  arms,  was  pierced  through  the  bosom, 
and  died.  She  is  patroness  of  Padua  and  Venice,  and  in  the  former 
city  there  is  a  sumptuous  church  in  her  honor,  which  was  founded  in 
453,  and  rebuilt  in  the  sixteenth  century.  Her  proper  attribute  is 
the  SAVord  transfixing  her  bosom.  Sometimes  the  unicorn,  which  be- 
longs to  Justina  of  Antioch,  is  also  given  to  this  saint,  which  causes 
confusion  between  the  two.  The  unicorn  attending  a  female  is  also  the 
emblem  of  chastity  ;  when  it  accompanies  Justina  of  Padua,  the 
Venetian  costume,  or  Venice  itself,  or  else  St.  Mark  in  the  dis- 
tance, will  usually  decide,  but  when  the  female  is  alone  or  with  a 
company  of  martyrs  and  the  unicorn,  it  is  Justina  of  Antioch.  Octo- 
ber 7,  A.  D.  303. 

St.  Lambert  of  Maestricht  (Ital  San  Lamberto ;  Fr.  and 
Gei\  Lambert,  Lanbert,  or  Landbert).  This  name  signifies,  illustrious 
with  landed  possessions.  He  was  Bishop  of  Maestricht,  but  was 
exiled  and  recalled  in  677.  It  is  said  that  when  an  acolyte  he  car- 
ried burning  coals  in  the  folds  of  his  surplice  to  kindle  the  incense ; 
this  typifies  his  fervor.  The  cause  of  his  death  is  given  in  two  ways. 
One  account  is  that  two  brothers  who  had  robbed  the  Church  of 
Maestricht,  were  slain  without  the  knowledge  of  the  bishop,  and 
their  kinsmen  in  revenge  entered  the  house  of  Lambert,  and  mur- 
dered all  within.  He  was  killed  with  a  dart  or  javelin.  The  other 
story  is,  that  having  boldly  reproved  Pepin  d'Heristal  for  his  love  of 
his  mistress,  the  beautiful  Alpaide,  the  grandmother  of  Charlemagne, 
one  of  her  relatives  entered  his  dwelling  and  slew  him.  His  attri- 
butes are  the  palm  and  javelin.    September  17,  a.  d.  709. 

Lamech.  There  is  a  Jewish  tradition  that  after  Lamech  became 
blind,  he  was  hunting  in  a  forest  where  Cain  had  concealed  himself, 
and  mistaking  the  vagabond  for  a  wild  beast,  he  slew  him  with  an 
arrow,  and  afterwards  killed  his  son,  Tubal-Cain,  who  had  pointed 
out  to  him  the  thicket  in  which  Cain  had  been.  This  is  said  to 
explain  Genesis  iv.  23,  "  For  I  have  slain  a  man  to  my  wounding, 
and  a  young  man  to  my  hurt."    This  legend  has  been  illustrated  in 


174  LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 

an  engraving  by  Lucas  von  Leyden,  and  in  sculpture  in  the  cathe- 
drals at  Amiens  and  Modena,  as  well  as  in  the  Campo  Santo  at  Pisa. 

Last  Supper  {ItaL  II  Cenacolo,  Le  Cena ;  Fr.  La  Gene ;  Ger, 
Das  Abendmal  Christ!).  This  subject  occupies  a  most  important 
place  in  art  when  illustrating  the  history  of  Christ,  as  the  Redeemer. 
It  has  been  treated  in  two  distinct  modes.  First,  as  a  m}  stery,  and 
"  the  spiritual  origin  of  the  Eucharist,"  and  again  as  illustrative  of 
the  detection  and  exposure  of  Judas.  Keeping  this  distinction  in 
mind  will  help  to  explain  the  differences  in  treatment  of  the  various 
artists,  and  influence  the  judgment  in  deciding  points  connected  with 
them ;  as  what  seems  irreverent,  and  out  of  place  in  a  religious  and 
devotional  picture,  is  quite  admissible  in  one  that  is  barely  historical. 

St.  Laurence  {Lat,  S.  Lau- 
rentius ;  Fr,  St.  Laurent ;  Ital, 
and  Sp.  San  Lorenzo;  Ger,  Der 
Heilige  Laurentius,  or  Lorenz). 
Historically,  but  little  is  known 
of  this  saint.  Even  the  time 
and  place  of  his  birth  are  mat- 
ters of  doubt,  but  that  he  existed, 
and  was  martyred  according  to 
the  general  belief,  is  undoubtedly 
true.  His  legend  relates,  that  he 
was  a  Spaniard,  and  a  native  of 
Osca,  or  Huesca  in  Aragon,where 
his  parents  are  honored  as  SS. 
Orientius  and  Patienza.  He 
went  to  Kome  when  quite  young, 
and  by  his  exemplary  life  so 
pleased  Sixtus  II.,  then  Bishop 
of  Rome,  that  he  made  him  his 
archdeacon,  and  gave  the  treas- 
ures of  the  Church  into  his  care. 
When  Sixtus  was  condemned  to 
death  as  a  Christian,  St.  Lau- 
rence clung  to  him,  and  desired 
to  accompany  him,  saying,  among 
other  things,  "  St.  Peter  suffered 
Stephen,  his  deacon,  to  die  before 
him ;  wilt  thou  not  also  suffer 
(Pinturicchio.)  St.  Laurence.  ^le  to  prepare  thy  way?  "  Six- 

tus assured  him  that  in  three  days  he  would  follow  him,  and  that  his 
sufferings  would  be  far  the  greatest,  because  being  younger  and 
stronofer  he  could  lono-er  endure.  He  also  commanded  Laurence  to 
distribute  the  property  of  the  Church  to  the-  poor,  so  that  the  tyrant 
should  never  possess  it.  So  Laurence  took  the  treasures  and  sought 
through  all  Rome  for  the  poor,  and  he  came  at  night  to  the  Coelian 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


175 


Hill,  where  dwelt  Cyriaca,  who  was  a  devout  widow,  who  often  con- 
cealed the  persecuted  Christians,  and  cared  for  them.  She  was  sick, 
and  St.  Laurence  healed  her  by  laying  his  hands  on  her,  and  also 
washed  the  feet  of  the  Christians  in  the  house,  and  gave  them  alms. 
Thus  from  house  to  house  he  dispensed  his  charities,  and  prepared 
for  his  hastening  martyrdom.  The  tyrant,  learning  that  the  treasures 
were  in  his  hands,  ordered  him  to  be  brought  to  the  tribunal. 
He  was  required  to  tell  where  the  treasures  were,  to  which  he 
would  not  reply,  and  was  put  into  a  dungeon  under  the  care 
of  Hippolytus,  whom  he  converted  to  Christianity  with  his  whole 
family,  so  that  they  were  baptized.  Being  questioned  again  by 
the  prefect  concerning  the  treasures,  he  promised  that  in  three 
days  he  would  show  them.  The  time  arriving,  he  gathered  the 
poor  ones  to  whom  he  had  given  aid  together,  and  showed  them  to 
the  tyrant,  saying,  "  Behold,  here  are  the  treasures  of  Christ's 
Church !  "  The  prefect  then  ordered  him  to  be  tortured  until  he 
should  tell  what  he  wished  to  know.  But  no  horrors  could  subdue 
the  saint,  and  the  prefect  ordered  him  to  be  carried  by  night  to  the 
baths  of  Olympias,  which  were  near  the  villa  of  Sallust,  and  a  new 
torment  inflicted  on  him,  which  was,  that  he  should  be  stretched  on 
an  iron  bed,  made  of  bars  like  a  gridiron,  and  roasted  over  a 
fire  kindled  beneath.  This  was  done,  and  all  who  saw  were  filled 
with  horror  of  the  tyrant  who  could  conceive  such  cruelty,  and  con- 
demn so  gentle  and  comely  a  youth  to  such  suflfering.  But  Laurence 
was  not  now  subdued,  and  cried  out,  "  Assatus  est :  jam  versa  et 
manduca  "  (I  am  done  or  roasted,  —  now  turn  me  and  eat  me).  And 
all  were  confounded  by  his  endurance.  Then  he  looked  to  heaven, 
and  said,  "  I  thank  thee,  O  my  God  and  Saviour,  that  I  have  been 
found  worthy  to  enter  into  thy  beatitude !  "  and  so  he  died.  The 
prefect  and  executioners  went  away,  and  Hippolytus  took  the  body 
and  buried  it  in  the  Via  Tiburtina.  For  this  the  tyrant  commanded 
him  to  be  tied  to  the  tail  of  a  wild  horse,  and  so  he  was  martyred. 
Soon  after  this  prefect,  as  he  sat  in  the  amphitheatre,  was  seized  with 
pangs  of  death,  and  cried  out  to  St.  Laurence  and  Hippolytus,  as  he 
gave  up  the  ghost.  In  Rome  six  churches  have  been  dedicated  to 
him ;  in  Spain  the  Escurial ;  in  Genoa  a  cathedral ;  and  in  England 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  churches,  besides  many  others  in  all 
Christendom.  St.  Laurence  is  connected  with  the  death  of  the 
Emperor  Henry  H.,  by  the  following  legend.  One  night  as  a  hermit 
sat  in  his  hut  he  heard  a  sound  as  of  a  host  rushing  past.  He 
opened  his  window,  and  called  out  to  know  who  they  could  be.  The 
answer  came,  "  We  are  demons.  Henry  the  Emperor  is  about  to  die 
at  this  moment,  and  we  go  to  seize  his  soul."  The  hermit  then 
begged  that  on  their  return  they  should  tell  him  the  result  of  their 
errand.  This  they  promised,  and  after  a  time  that  same  night  they 
came  again,  and  knocked  at  the  window.    When  the  hermit  ques- 


176 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


tioned  of  their  success,  the  fiend  swore  that  all  had  gone  ill,  for  they 
arrived  just  as  the  emperor  expired,  and  were  about  to  seize  his  soul 
when  his  good  angel  came  to  save  him.  After  a  long  dispute  the 
Angel  of  Judgment  (St.  Michael)  laid  his  good  and  evil  deeds  in  the 
scale,  and  the  latter  descended  and  touched  the  earth,  and  the  vic- 
tory was  to  the  demons,  when  lo !  the  roasted  fellow  (for  so  he 
wickedly  called  the  saint)  appeared,  and  threw  into  the  other  scale 
the  holy  cup,  which  changed  the  balance,  and  defeated  the  fiends. 
But  the  demon  had  avenged  himself  by  breaking  the  handle  off  the 
cup,  and  this  he  gave  the  hermit.  In  the  morning  the  hermit  hasted 
to  the  city  and  found  Henry  dead,  and  one  handle  gone  from  the  cup 
he  had  given  the  Church,  and  this  had  disappeared  in  the  night.  St. 
Laurence  is  usually  painted  in  the  rich  dress  of  an  archdeacon  bear- 
ing the  palm,  and  la  graticola  or  gridiron.  But  sometimes  he  carries 
a  dish  full  of  money,  and  the  cross  to  signify  his  office  of  treasurer 
to  the  Church,  and  also  of  deacon,  for  they  bore  the  cross  in  proces- 
sions. The  gridiron  varies  in  form  and  size.  Sometimes  it  is  em- 
broidered on  his  robe,  suspended  round  his  neck,  or  borne  in  the 
hand ;  and  again  he  puts  his  foot  on  it  in  triumph.  Patron  of 
Nuremberg,  the  Escurial,  and  Genoa.    August  10,  a.  d.  258. 

St.  Lazarus  (^Lat.  and  Ger.  same  as  Eng. ;  Fr.  St.  Lazare ;  ItaL 
San  Lazarro ;  Sp.  San  Lazaro,  Lazarillo.  Signification  :  God  will 
help).  This  saint  is  venerated  as  the  first  Bishop  of  Marseilles. 
When  seen  in  any  pictures  other  than  those  of  his  resurrection, 
he  wears  in  common  with  many  other  saints  the  bishop's  dress,  but 
as  he  is  most  frequently  associated  with  Mary  and  Martha,  he  is  not 
easily  mistaken.  In  rare  instances  a  bier  is  seen  in  the  background. 
September  2. 

St.  Leander.    February  27,  a.  d.  596.    See  St.  Isidore. 

St.  Leocadia  was  a  native  of  Toledo.  She  was  thrown  into 
prison  during  the  persecution  of  Diocletian.  While  there  she  was 
told  of  the  death  of  St.  Eulalia,  who  was  her  friend,  and  she  ear- 
nestly prayed  that  death  might  reunite  them.  Her  prayer  was  soon 
answered,  and  she  died  in  prison.  Another  legend  relates  that  she 
was  thrown  down  from  a  height  of  rocks,  and  a  chapel  was  built  on 
the  spot  where  she  fell,  and  in  it  she  was  buried.  When  St.  Ilde- 
fonso  had  written  his  treatise  defending  the  doctrine  of  the  perpetual 
virginity  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  angels  rolled  the  stone  from  the  tomb 
of  St.  Leocadia,  and  she  went  to  St.  Ildefonso  to  tell  him  of  the  ap- 
probation of  his  work  in  heaven.  Before  she  could  disappear  he  cut 
a  piece  from  the  mantilla  which  she  wore,  and  this  relic  was  pre- 
served as  one  of  the  church  treasures.  She  is  patroness  of  Toledo, 
and  her  statue  surmounts  the  gate  (Puerta  del  Cambron).  She  is  only 
seen  in  Spanish  pictures.    December  9,  A.  d.  304. 

St.  Leonard  (^Lat.  Sanctus  Leonardus ;  Ital.  San  Leonardo ;  Fr. 
Saint  Leonard  or  Lionart.     Signification  :  Brave  as  a  Lion)  was  a 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


177 


courtier  of  the  court  of  King  Theodobert,  and  was  much  beloved  by 


He  was  a  Christian, 


the  king  for  his  cheerfulness  and  amiability, 
and  especially  delighted  in  visiting  and  re- 
lieving prisoners  and  captives,  and  often- 
times the  king  pardoned  those  for  whom  he 
pleaded.  At  length,  being  weary  of  court, 
he  retired  to  a  desert  near  Limoges,  and 
became  a  hermit.  One  day  as  the  king 
and  queen,  with  all  the  court,  rode  to  the 
chase,  the  queen  was  seized  with  the  pains 
of  child-bearing,  and  seemed  likely  to  die. 
The  spot  where  they  were  was  near  the 
house  of  Leonard,  and  he,  hearing  of  this 
distress,  came  and  prayed  for  the  queen, 
and  she  was  soon  safely  delivered.  Then 
the  king  gave  St.  Leonard  a  portion  of  the 
forest,  and  he  founded  a  religious  community, 
but  he  would  never  accept  any  office  above 
that  of  deacon.  His  dress  is  that  of  a 
Benedictine  or  of  a  deacon,  and  his  attribute 
a  chain.  Sometimes  he  bears  a  crosier  as 
founder  of  a  community,  and  often  slaves  or 
captives  are  near  him.    November  6,  A.  D. 

559^  (Old  fresco.)    St.  Leonard. 

St.  Leopold  of  Austria  (Ger.  Der  Heilige  Leopold,  Luitpold, 
or  Leupold.  Signification  :  Bold  for  the  People).  Leopold,  Margrave 
of  Austria,  was  born  in  1080.  At  twenty-six  he  married  Agnes, 
widow  of  Frederic,  Duke  of  Suabia.  She  bore  him  eighteen  chil- 
dren, and  eleven  of  them  were  living  at  his  death.  He  was  canon- 
ized on  account  of  his  having  founded  the  splendid  monastery  of 
Kloster-Neuberg,  on  the  Danube.  The  legend  relates  that  soon  after 
Jiis  marriage,  he  stood  with  Agnes  on  the  balcony  of  his  palace  of 
Leopoldsberg.  They  regarded  the  extensive  view  before  them,  with 
Vienna  near  by,  and  hand  in  hand,  they  vowed  to  build  and  endow 
an  edifice  for  the  service  of  God  in  gratitude  to  Him  who  had  blest 
their  love.  Just  at  that  moment  the  wind  lifted,  and  bore  away  the 
bridal  veil  of  Agnes.  Eight  years  from  this  time,  when  hunting  in 
a  forest  near  by,  Leopold  found  this  veil  on  a  tree.  He  remembered 
his  vow,  ordered  the  forest  cleared,  and  built  the  monastery  of 
Kloster-Neuberg.  A  flourishing  town  was  built  around  it,  and  some 
of  the  finest  vineyards  in  Austria  were  here.  The  whole  life  of 
Leopold  was  that  of  a  virtuous  and  just  man.  He  is  one  of  the 
patron  saints  of  Austria,  and  is  represented  in  armor.  Sometimes 
he  has  a  rosary  in  his  hand.    November  15,  A.  D.  1136. 

St.  Lieven,  or  Livin,  was  a  poet,  and  a  Benedictine  missionary. 
He  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  country, 
12 


178 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


famous  in  those  days  for  their  superiority.  While  pursuing  his  la- 
bors near  Ghent,  he  was  cruelly  martyred.  His  tongue  was  pulled 
out  and  then  his  head  cut  off.  The  mother  of  St.  Brice  had  been 
his  hostess,  and  both  she  and  her  son  were  killed  with  St.  Lieven. 
He  had  written  a  hymn  in  honor  of  St.  Bavon,  within  whose  church 
at  Ghent  he  was  buried,  and  there  his  relics  still  repose.  He  is 
sometimes  painted  holding  his  tongue  with  tongs.  Eubens  painted 
this  martyrdom  with  terrible  truthfulness.     November  12,  A.  D.  656. 

St.  Lioba.  This  saint  was  the  most  distinguished  companion  of 
St.  Walburga.  She  was  a  poetess,  and  very  learned  for  the  time  in 
which  she  lived.  Charlemagne,  and  his  Empress  Hildegarde,  were 
very  fond  of  Lioba,  and  would  gladly  have  kept  her  with  them  as  a 
companion  and  counselor,  but  she  preferred  her  convent  life.  She 
was  buried  at  Fulda  by  the  side  of  St.  Boniface.  September  28,  A. 
D.  779. 

St.  Longinus  (Ital  San  Longino ;  Fr.  Saint  Longin,  Sainct 
Longis).  This  saint  is  known  as  being  the  ^'  first  fruits  of  the  Gen- 
tiles." He  is  said  to  be  the  centurion  who  pierced  the  Saviour's 
side.  The  legend  relates,  that  soon  after  this  act  he  touched  his 
eyes  with  his  blood-stained  hands  and  instantly  the  weakness  of 
sight  or  blindness  from  which  he  had  long  suffered  was  cured.  He 
then  sought  the  Apostles  and  was  baptized.  After  this  he  preached 
in  Caesarea  and  converted  numbers,  but  being  commanded  to  sacri- 
fice to  the  pagan  deities  he  refused.  He  was  desirous  of  the  mar- 
tyr's crown,  and  assured  the  governor,  who  was  blind,  that  after  his 
own  death  his  sight  should  be  restored.  Upon  this  he  was  be- 
headed, and  immediately  the  governor  was  healed,  and  became  a 
Christian  from  the  time  of  this  miracle.  This  legend  is  repudiated 
by  the  Church,  but  the  knowledge  of  it  explains  the  importance 
given  to  the  centurion  in  many  works  of  art.  His  dress  is  that 
of  a  Roman  soldier,  and  his  attribute  a  spear  or  lance.  He  has 
been  patron  saint  of  Mantua  since  the  eleventh  century,  when 
his  relics  were  said  to  have  been  brought  to  that  city.  His  statue  is 
under  the  dome  of  St.  Peter's  in  Rome,  because  tradition  says  that 
his  lance  or  spear  is  still  among  the  treasures  of  the  Church. 
March  15,  A.  D.  45. 

St.  Lorenzo  Qiustiniani  was  a  Venetian  of  noble  family.  He 
was  born  in  1380,  and  from  his  youth  was  enthusiastic  in  his  piety. 
Quirina,  his  mother,  though  young  and  beautiful,  remained  a  widow 
that  she  might  devote  herself  to  her  son.  At  nineteen  he  believed  that 
he  was  called  to  a  religious  life  by  a  miraculous  vision.  His  family 
desired  him  to  marry,  but  he  retired  to  the  cloister  of  San-Giorgio-in- 
Alga.  He  came  to  his  mother's  palace  to  beg,  per  i  poveri  di  Dio." 
She  filled  his  wallet,  and  hid  herself  in  her  chamber.  He  became 
so  distinguished  for  his  piety  that  he  was  made  Bishop  of  Castello. 
When  the  patriarchate  of  Grado  was  removed  to  Venice,  Lorenzo 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


179 


was  the  first  to  fill  the  office.  The  people  so  revered  him  that  they 
believed  that  his  prayers  had 
saved  them  fi^om  war,  famine,  and 
plague,  and  they  exalted  him  as  a 
saint  without  canonization,  and 
built  churches  and  altars  to  him 
two  centuries  before  he  was  made 
a  saint,  by  Alexander  YIII.  Sep- 
tember 5,  A.  D.  1455. 

St.  Louis  Beltran,  or  Bertrand 
(Jtal.  San  Ludovico  Bertrando),  was 
born  at  Valencia.  He  became  a 
celebrated  Dominican,  and  was  a 
missionary.  He  lived  in  the  six- 
teenth century.  He  was  a  friend 
of  St.  Theresa.  Feeling  called  to 
preach  to  the  heathen  he  went  to 
Peru,  but  he  declared  that  he  en- 
countered greater  trials  from  the 
wickedness  of  the  Christians  than 
from  the  ignorance  of  the  hea- 
then. He  has  no  especial  attribute, 
but  Peruvians  or  Peruvian  scenery 
often  determine  his  personality. 
Espinosa  placed  himself  and  his 
family  under  the  care  of  this  saint 
during  the  plague  in  Valencia  in 
1647,  and  in  consideration  of  their      (Venice.   S.  Maria  dell  Orta.  Gentil 

.        ^  1  1  •       1  Bellini.) 

protection   irom  harm  he  painted  St.  Lorenzo  Giustiniani. 

a  series  of  pictures,  and  placed  them  in  the  chapel  of  the  saint 
in  the  convent  of  San  Domingo  at  Valencia.  October  9,  a.  d. 
1581. 

St.  Louis  Gonzaga,  or  St.  Aloysius,  was  born  in  1568.  He 
was  the  oldest  son  of  the  Marchese  di  Castiglione.  He  entered  the 
Society  of  Jesus  when  not  yet  eighteen  years  old.  He  became  emi- 
nently distinguished  for  his  learning,  piety,  and  good  works,  and  died 
of  fever  at  Bome  in  1591,  which  was  contracted  while  nursing  the 
sick.  He  has  no  particular  attribute,  but  his  youth  distinguishes 
him  from  most  saints  of  his  order.    A.  D.  1591. 

St.  Louis,  King  of  France  (Lat.  Sanctus  Ludovicus  Bex  ; 
Ital.  San  Luigi,  Bei  di  Francia).  Son  of  Louis  VHI.  and  Blanche 
of  Castile.  Born  in  1215  at  Poissy.  The  holiness  of  Louis,  his 
talents  and  virtues,  combined  to  make  him  respected  and  beloved 
by  all,  and  even  Voltaire  said  of  him :  "  B  n'est  guere  donne  a 
Phomme  de  pousser  la  vertu  plus  loin !  The  Franciscans  claim 
that  he  put  on  their  habit  before  embarking  on  his  first  crusade, 


180 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


and  that  in  it  he  died.  He  was  a  great  collector  of  relics,  for  which 
he  had  an  extreme  veneration.  Baldwin  II. 
secured  his  aid  by  surrendering  to  him  the 
crown  of  thorns,  and  when  it  was  brought 
from  Constantinople  Louis  carried  it  from 
Sens  to  Paris,  bareheaded  and  barefooted. 
Having  also  a  piece  of  the  "  True  Cross," 
he  built  the  beautiful  chapel,  La  Sainte 
Chapelle,  in  honor  of  these  precious  relics. 
In  1247,  being  very  sick,  he  laid  in  a 
trance  for  hours.  When  he  awoke  he  ex- 
claimed, La  Lumiere  de  1' Orient  s'est  re- 
pandue  du  haut  du  ciel  sur  moi  par  la 
grace  "du  Seigneur,  et  m'a  rappele  d'entre 
les  morts !  "  He  then  called  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Paris,  and  in  spite  of  all  remon- 
strance from  his  priests  and  friends  he 
commanded  the  cross  of  the  crusade  to  be 
affixed  to  his  dress.  The  archbishop 
obeyed  with  tears  and  sobs.  As  soon  as 
his  health  allowed,  he  sailed  for  Egypt. 
His  wife  and  brothers  went  also  ;  and  his 
army  of  fifty  thousand  men  embraced  the 
flower  of  the  French  nobility.  After  many 
disasters  Louis  was  made  prisoner.  But 
(Ancient  French  stained  glass.)  ^^^^  zeal  never  cooled,  and  he  regarded  all 
St.  Louis.  his  soldiers  who  perished  as  martyrs  of  a 

noble  type.  When  ransomed  he  spent  three  years  in  Palestine  and 
returned  to  France,  where  he  remained  sixteen  years.  He  was  a  wise 
ruler,  and  repaired  his  losses  and  enlarged  his  kingdom.  At  the  end 
of  this  time  he  set  out  on  a  second  crusade.  Those  whom  he  left 
as  children  when  he  went  at  first  now  made  his  army.  After  more 
trials  by  disease  and  suffering  he  died  in  his  tent,  lying  upon  ashes, 
and  wearing  the  dress  of  a  penitent.  A  portion  of  his  relics  were 
taken  to  Palermo  and  placed  in  the  Church  of  Monreale.  The  re- 
mainder were  laid  in  St.  Denis,  but  did  not  escape  the  destroyers  of 
the  first  revolution.  His  proper  attributes  are  the  crown  of  thorns, 
his  kingly  crown  and  sword.    August  25,  A.  D.  1270. 

St.  Louis  of  Toulouse  (ItaL  San  Ludovico  Yescovo)  was  the 
nephew  of  the  last-named  saint,  son  of  the  King  of  Naples  and 
Sicily.  Like  his  kingly  uncle-saint,  he  was  piously  reared  by  his 
mother.  When  he  was  but  fourteen  his  father,  being  made  prisoner 
by  the  King  of  Aragon,  gave  Louis  and  his  brothers  as  hostages.  He 
became  wearied  of  everything  but  religion,  and  in  1294,  when  he  was 
made  free,  he  gave  all  his  royal  rights  to  his  brother  Robert,  and  be- 
came a  monk  of  the  Order  of  St.  Francis.    He  was  then  twenty- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


181 


two  years  old.  Soon  he  was  made  Bishop  of  Toulouse,  and  he  went 
barefooted  and  clothed  as  a  friar  to  take  his  new  office.  He  went 
into  Provence  on  a  charitable  mission,  and  died  at  the  Castle  of 
Brignolles,  where  he  was  born.  He  was  first  buried  at  Marseilles 
and  removed  to  Valencia,  where  he  was  enshrined.  His  pictures 
represent  him  as  young,  beardless,  and  of  gentle  face.  He  has  the 
fleur-de-lys  embroidered  on  his  cope  or  some  part  of  his  dress.  The 
crown  which  he  gave  away  lies  at  his  feet,  while  he  bears  the  mitre 
of  a  bishop.    August  19,  A.  d.  1297. 

SoBur  Louise  de  la  Misericorde,  who  was  first  the  lovely 
Louise  de  la  Valliere,  was  never  canonized  as  a  saint,  except  in  the 
hearts  of  those  to  whom  her  sorrow  and  suffering,  her  repentance 
and  charities,  have  made  her  martyr  and  saint.  She  became  a  Car- 
melite nun  at  thirty  years  of  age,  in  1674.  She  commanded  Le 
Brun  to  paint  "  Mary  Magdalene  renouncing  the  World,"  as  an  altar- 
piece  for  her  convent.  It  has  been  thought  a  portrait  of  her,  but 
many  believe  that  another  Magdalene  by  the  same  artist,  which  is  in 
Munich,  is  probably  the  best  likeness  of  La  Valliere. 

St.  Lucia  (Eng.  St.  Lucy  or  Luce ;  Fr.  St.  Luce  or  Lucie). 
When  Diocletian  was  emperor  and  Pascasius  was  governor  of  Sicily, 
this  saint  dwelt  in  Syracuse.  She  was  a  noble  and  virtuous  maiden. 
Her  mother  was  named  Eutychia.  Lucia,  without  the  knowledge  of 
her  mother,  had  made  the  vow  of  chastity,  but  her  friends  had  her 
betrothed  to  a  rich  young  man  who  was  not  a  Christian.  Eutychia 
being  ill,  her  daughter  persuaded  her  to  visit  Catania  to  pay  her  de- 
votions at  the  shrine  of  St.  Agatha.  While  Lucia  knelt  beside  the 
tomb  she  had  a  vision  of  the  saint,  who  addressed  her  thus,  "  O,  my 
sister  handmaid  of  Christ,"  —  and  assured  her  that  her  mother  was 
healed,  and  that  as  Catania  had  been  blessed  by  her,  so  Lucia  should 
obtain  the  favor  of  Heaven  for  Syracuse.  Now  when  her  mother 
was  healed,  Lucia  persuaded  her  to  allow  that  she  should  remain 
single,  and  wished  her  dowry  to  give  to  the  poor.  Her  mother 
feared  lest  she  should  be  a  beggar  before  she  died,  and  hoped  to  die 
soon  if  Lucia  thus  distributed  her  wealth.  But  the  daughter  so  en- 
treated and  argued  that  at  length  Eutychia  consented  willingly. 
Then  Lucia  gave  to  the  poor  all  she  had.  This  so  enraged  the 
young  Pagan  to  whom  she  was  betrothed  that  he  accused  her  to 
Pascasius  as  a  Christian.  She  was  taken  to  this  cruel  governor,  who 
ordered  her  to  sacrifice  to  the  gods,  and  when  she  would  not,  he  con- 
demned her  to  be  taken  to  a  vile  place  and  treated  with  indignity. 
She  assured  him  that  he  could  not  make  her  sin,  although  he  could 
control  her  body,  for  that  was  not  sin  to  which  the  mind  did  not 
consent.  Then  the  tyrant  in  fury  commanded  her  to  be  taken  away, 
but  when  they  tried  they  could  not  move  her.  Then  they  fastened 
ropes  to  her,  and  pulled  her,  but  still  she  remained  fixed.  All  the 
magicians  and  sorcerers  were  brought,  but  their  spells  had  no  power 


182 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


on  her.  Then  they  kindled  a  great  fire  about  her,  but  she  prayed 
that  these  heathen  might  be  confounded,  and  the  fire  did  not  harm 
her.  At  this  Pascasius  was  so  enraged  that  a  servant,  in  order  to 
please  him,  murdered  her  by  piercing  her  throat  with  a  poniard. 


(Crivelli.)    St.  Lucia. 


Her  body  was  buried  by  the  Christians  on  the  very  spot  where  she 
died,  and  not  long  after  a  church  was  erected  there  and  dedicated 
in  her  name.  This  legend,  which  is  one  of  the  most  ancient,  does 
not  speak  of  the  loss  of  her  eyes,  but  more  modern  ones  relate  the 
following  additional  story.  There  dwelt  in  Syracuse  a  youth,  who 
having  seen  her  but  once  was  so  enamored  of  her  that  he  took 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


183 


every  means  to  woo  her,  and  constantly  protested  that  it  was  her 
wonderfully  beautiful  eyes  which  so  haunted  him,  and  possessed  his 
soul  that  he  could  not  rest.  Whereupon  Lucia,  considering  the 
Scripture  saying,  "  If  thine  eye  offend  thee,  pluck  it  out,"  took  out 
her  eyes  and  sent  them  to  the  young  man  on  a  dish,  with  this  mes- 
sage, "  Here  hast  thou  what  thou  hast  so  much  desired  ;  and  for 
the  rest,  I  beseech  thee,  leave  me  now  in  peace."  The  young  man 
was  so  affected  by  this  that  he  became  a  convert  to  Christianity 
and  an  example  of  virtue  and  chastity.  But  Lucia  did  not  remain 
blind,  for  as  she  was  one  day  praying,  her  eyes  were  restored  and 
were  more  beautiful  than  at  first !  The  legend  advises  those  who 
doubt  this  to  consult  the  writings  of  various  learned  men,  where 
they  will  find  these  facts  related.  There  is  another  legend  which 
makes  the  loss  of  her  eyes  a  part  of  her  martyrdom,  but  there  is 
little  authority  for  this.  Her  attributes  are  a  light,  which  is  the 
signification  of  ber  name,  her  eyes  on  a  dish,  with  or  without  an 
awl  by  which  they  were  bored  out,  and  a  poniard  as  the  instrument 
of  her  death.  Sometimes  light  proceeds  from  wounds  in  her  neck, 
and  again  she  is  being  pulled  by  men  and  oxen,  with  no  effect.  In 
her  apotheosis  an  angel  carries  her  eyes  to  heaven  while  others  bear 
the  saint.  Patroness  of  Syracuse ;  protectress  against  all  diseases 
of  the  eye;  and  of  the  laboring  poor.    December  13,  a.  d.  303. 

St.  Ludmilla  was  the  grandmother  of  St.  Wenceslaus  or  Wenzel, 
who  is  venerated  in  the  north  of  Germany.  Ludmilla  was  con- 
verted by  the  preaching  of  St.  Adelbert,  and  she  educated  her 
grandson  in  the  Christian  faith.  His  brother  Boleslaus  was  a  pa- 
gan and  instructed  by  his  mother,  Drahomira.  Bohemia  at  length 
became  divided  between  Christians  and  Pagans,  and  Boleslaus  and 
his  mother  determined  to  kill  Ludmilla,  who  protected  the  Christians. 
They  hired  assassins  who  strangled  her  with  her  veil  when  she  was 
praying  in  her  oratory.  Wenceslaus  was  then  persuaded  to  visit 
his  mother,  and  was  slain  by  his  brother  when  he  too  was  in  the  act 
of  paying  his  devotions  at  the  altar.  Ludmilla  was  the  first  mar- 
tyr saint  of  Bohemia.     September  16,  A.  d.  927. 

St.  Luke  (iaf.  Sanctus  Luca ;  Ital.  San  Luca ;  Fr.  St.  Luc). 
We  are  told  but  little  of  St.  Luke  in  the  Gospel.  It  would  seem 
that  he  was  not  converted  until  after  the  Ascension  of  our  Lord. 
He  was  a  disciple  of  Paul,  and  was  with  him  until  his  death.  Some 
say  he  was  crucified  at  Patras,  and  others  that  he  died  a  peaceful 
death.  That  he  was  a  physician  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that 
Paul  speaks  of  him  as  "  Luke,  the  beloved  physician  ;  "  but  the  gen- 
eral belief  that  he  was  an  artist  rests  on  Greek  traditions,  and  can 
only  be  traced  to  the  tenth  century.  A  picture  of  the  Virgin 
found  in  the  Catacombs  with  an  inscription,  to  the  import  that  it  is 
"one  of  seven  painted  by  Luca,"  is  regarded  as  a  confirmation 
of  this  belief  concerning  the  Evangelist  Luke. 


184 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


Tradition  teaches  that  he  carried  always  with  him  two  portraits, 
one  being  that  of  the  Saviour  and  the  other  of  Mary.  These  he 
had  painted,  and  he  made  many  converts  by  displaying  these  faces, 
which  inspired  those  who  saw  them  with  devotion,  and  besides  he 
worked  miracles  with  them.  In  the  Church  of  Santa  Maria,  in  Via 
Lata  at  Rome,  a  small  chapel  is  shown  as  that  where  Luke 
wrote  his  Gospel  and  multiplied  images  of  the  Virgin,  which  it  was 
his  delight  to  do.  From  these  legends  he  has  been  chosen  the  pa- 
tron saint  of  artists  and  academies  of  art.  He  is  often  represented 
as  painting  the  Virgin.  His  attributes  are  the  ox,  given  him  be- 
cause he  wrote  especially  of  the  priesthood  of  the  Saviour,  and  the 
ox  is  the  emblem  of  sacrifice ;  the  book,  signifying  his  writings,  and 
a  portrait  of  the  Virgin  placed  in  his  hand.  Sometimes  the  ox  has 
wings ;  and  again  the  head  of  an  ox  is  placed  on  the  figure  of  a 
man  as  a  symbol  of  this  Evangelist.  In  the  Church  of  San  Do- 
menico  and  San  Sisto  at  Rome,  there  is  a  tablet  which  is  inscribed 
thus ;  Here  at  the  high  altar  is  preserved  that  image  of  the  most 
blessed  Mary,  which,  being  delineated  by  St.  Luke  the  Evangelist, 
received  its  colors  and  form  divinely.  This  is  that  image  with 
which  St.  Gregory  the  Great  (according  to  St.  Antonine),  as  a  sup- 
pliant, purified  Rome ;  and  the  pestilence  being  dispelled,  the  angel 
messenger  of  peace,  from  the  summit  of  the  Castle  of  Adrian,  com- 
manding the  Queen  of  Heaven  to  rejoice,  restored  health  to  the  city." 
Another  picture  in  the  Ara  Coeli  claims  to  be  the  one  which  was  thus 
honored.  Both  of  them  are  dark  and  far  from  beautiful,  and  if  they 
are  the  work  of  St.  Luke,  I  would  much  prefer  the  loord-picture  of 
Mary  which  he  gives  in  his  Gospel,  to  those  of  his  brush.  October  18. 

St.  Lupo.    See  St.  Adelaide. 

St.  Macarius  (of  Alexandria)  was  one  of  the  most  famous 
hermit  saints  of  Egypt.  He  is  represented  in  the  great  fresco  by 
Pietro  Laurati  in  the  Campo  Santo  at  Pisa.  He  is  in  the  centre 
looking  down  at  a  skull  which  he  touches  with  his  staff.  This  is 
explained  by  the  following  legend  :  As  Macarius  was  wandering 
among  the  Egyptian  tombs  he  saw  a  skull  of  a  mummy.  He  turned 
it  over  and  asked  to  whom  it  belonged.  It  answered,  "  To  a  pagan." 
He  then  said,  "  Where  is  thy  soul  ?  "  And  the  skull  replied,  In 
hell."  Macarius  then  said,  How  deep  ?  "  The  depth  is  greater 
than  the  distance  from  heaven  to  earth,"  answered  the  skull.  Then 
Macarius  asked,  "  Are  there  any  deeper  than  thou  art  ?  "  and  the 
skull  replied,  "  Yes,  the  Jews  are  deeper  still."  And  again  the 
hermit  said,  ''Are  there  any  deeper  than  the  Jews?"  "Yes,  in 
sooth !"  replied  the  skull,  ''for  the  Christians  whom  Jesus  Christ 
hath  redeemed,  and  who  show  in  their  actions  that  they  despise  his 
doctrine,  are  deeper  still !  "    January  2,  a.  d.  394. 

Madonna,  La,  or  Our  Lady  (Fr.  Notre  Dame ;  Ger.  Unser 
liebe  Frau ;  Eng.  The  Virgin  Mary ;  Lat,  Virgo  Gloriosa,  Virgo 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


185 


Sponsa  Dei,  Virgo  Potens,  Virgo  Veneranda,  Virgo  Praedicanda, 
Virgo  Clemens,  Virgo  Sapientissima,  Sancta  Virgo  Virginum  ;  ItaL 
La  Vergine  Gloriosa,  La  Gran  Vergine  delle  Vergini;  Fr.  La 
Grande  Vierge ;  Greek,  ^eoTOKrj)- 


(Early  Florentine  Sculpture.)   Head  of  the  Virgin. 


Taking  the  legends  connected  with  the  life  of  Mary  in  order,  the 
first  is  the  legend  of  Joachim  and  Anna  (ItaL  La  Leggenda  di 
Sant'  Anna  Madre  della  Gloriosa  Vergine  Maria,  e  di  San  Gioac- 
chino).    See  St.  Joachim. 

The  next  historical  picture  is  The  Nativity  of  the  Blessed  Virgin. 
(Fr.  La  Naissance  de  la  S.  Vierge  ;  ItaL  La  Nascita  della  B.  Ver- 
gine ;  Ger.  Die  Geburt  Maria.)  As  tradition  teaches  that  Joachim 
and  Anna  were  exceedingly  rich,"  the  room  in  which  the  birth  is  ' 
represented  is  usually  rich  in  furniture  and  decorations.  A  glory 
sometimes  surrounds  the  head  of  the  child.  Most  artists  have  also 
painted  attendants,  and  a  number  of  friends  and  neighbors  who  have 


186 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


come  to  rejoice  with  St.  Anna  that  her  prayers  are  answered  and  a 
child  born  to  her,  while  she  herself  reclines  on  her  bed  and  receives 
the  attentions  of  the  handmaidens  and  the  congratulations  of  her 
friends.     September  8. 

The  Presentation  of  the  Virgin  (ItaL  La  Presentazione,  ove 
nostra  Signora  piccioletta  Sale  i  gradi  del  Tempio ;  Ger.  Die  Vor- 
stellung  der  Jungfrau  im  Tempel,  Joachim  und  Anna  weihen  ihre 
Tochter  Maria  im  Tempel).  The  legend  says,  "  And  when  the 
child  was  three  years  old,  Joachim  said,  'Let  us  invite  the  daughters 
of  Israel,  and  they  shall  take  each  a  taper  or  a  lamp,  and  attend  on 
her,  that  the  child  may  not  turn  back  from  the  temple  of  the  Lord.' 
And  being  come  to  the  temple,  they  placed  her  on  the  first  step,  and 
she  ascended  alone  all  the  steps  to  the  altar :  and  the  high-priest 
received  her  there,  kissed  her,  and  blessed  her,  saying,  '  Mary,  the 
Lord  hath  magnified  thy  name  to  all  generations,  and  in  thee  shall 
be  made  known  the  redemption  of  the  children  of  Israel.'  And 
being  placed  before  the  altar,  she  danced  with  her  feet,  so  that  all 
the  house  of  Israel  rejoiced  with  her,  and  loved  her.  Then  her 
parents  returned  home,  blessing  God  because  the  maiden  had  not 
turned  back  from  the  temple."  There  are  various  pictures  of  the 
life  of  Mary  in  the  Temple.  She  is  represented  as  instructing  her 
companions,  as  spinning  and  embroidering  tapestry.  She  is  some- 
times attended  by  angels,  and  tradition  teaches  that  her  food  was 
supplied  by  them,  and  that  Mary  had  the  privilege,  which  none 
other  of  her  sex  ever  had,  of  going  into  the  Holy  of  Holies  to  pray 
before  the  ark  of  the  covenant.    Presentation  of  B.  Y.  November  21. 

The  Marriage  of  the  Virgin  (ItaL  II  Sposalizio ;  Fr.  Le  Mar- 
iage  de  la  Vierge ;  Ger,  Die  Trauung  Maria).  When  fourteen 
years  old  Mary  was  told  by  the  high-priest  that  it  was  proper  for 
her  to  be  married.  But  she  replied  that  her  parents  had  dedicated 
her  to  the  service  of  the  Lord.  Then  the  high-priest  told  her  of  a 
vision  he  had  had  concerning  her,  and  she  submitted  herself  to  the 
Lord's  appointment  with  sweet  humility.  The  manner  in  which 
her  husband  was  selected  is  told  in  the  legend  of  St.  Joseph.  In 
the  representations  the  Virgin  is  attended  by  a  train  of  maidens, 
and  the  disappointed  suitors  are  often  seen.  The  priest  joins  her 
hand  to  that  of  Joseph,  or  Joseph  is  placing  the  ring  on  her  finger. 
Joseph  frequently  carries  his  blossomed  wand,  while  the  other 
suitors  break  or  trample  on  theirs.  The  Cathedral  of  Perugia  is 
said  to  contain  among  its  relics  the  nuptial  ring  of  the  Virgin  Mary. 
The  return  of  Joseph  and  Mary  to  their  house  is  also  a  subject  of 
art,  and  Luini  represents  them  as  walking  hand  in  hand,  Joseph 
,  regarding  her  with  veneration,  and  she  looking  down,  modestly 
serene.    January  23. 

The  Annunciation  (Fr,  La  Salutation  Angelique,  L'Annoncia- 
tion  ;  Ger,  Die  Verkiindigung,  Der  englische  Gruss ;  Ital.  L'An- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


187 


nunciazione,  La  B.  Yergine  Annunziata).  In  addition  to  the  Gos- 
pel account  of  this  event,  artists  liave  been  influenced  by  legends. 
One  relates  that  as  Mary  went  forth  at  evening  to  draw  water,  she 
heard  a  voice  which  said,  "  Hail,  thou  that  art  full  of  grace !  "  but 
could  see  no  one.  Being  troubled,  she  returned  to  her  house  and 
her  work,  which  is  said  to  have  been  purple  and  fine  linen.  St. 
Bernard  relates  the  event  in  this  wise  :  Mary  was  studying  the 


(J.  Van  Eyck.)  Annunciation. 


book  of  Isaiah,  and  as  she  read  the  verse,  "  Behold,  a  Virgin  shall 
conceive  and  bear  a  son,"  she  thought  within  herself,  How  blessed 
the  woman  of  whom  these  words  are  written  !  Would  I  might  be 
but  her  handmaid  to  serve  her,  and  allowed  to  kiss  her  feet !  "  And 
instantly  the  angel  appeared  to  her,  and  in  her  the  prophecy  was 
fulfilled.  The  time  is  sometimes  just  at  evening,  in  reference  to 
which  belief  that  hour  has  been  consecrated  as  the  "  Ave  Maria." 
But  others  believe  it  to  have  been  midnight,  and  that  Christ  was 
born  at  the  same  hour  the  following  December.  The  place  is 
usually  within  the  house  and  rarely  by  a  fountain  as  the  legend 
presents  it.  Sometimes  Gabriel  flies  in  from  above,  or  is  borne  by  a 
cloud.  Sometimes  he  walks,  but  is  always  young,  beautiful,  and  yet 
thoughtful  in  look.  He  has  wings,  and  in  the  early  pictures  full 
drapery.    He  either  bears  the  lily  (Fleur  de  Marie),  or  it  is  in 


188 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


some  other  part  of  the  picture.  Sometimes  he  has  the  olive,  typical 
of  peace,  or  a  sceptre  with  a  scroll  inscribed,  "  Ave  Maria,  gratia 
plena  !  "  Very  rarely  he  has  the  palm.  The  Holy  Spirit,  as  a 
dove,  is  sometimes  poised  over  the  head  of  Mary,  sometimes  hovers 
toward  her  bosom,  or  enters  the  room  through  the  window.  A  less 
agreeable  introduction  is  that  of  the  Eternal  Father,  above  the  sky, 
surrounded  by  a  glory  and  sending  forth  celestial  light.  The  spirit 
or  sentiment  of  the  picture  depends  in  a  great  measure  upon  the  age 
in  which  it  was  painted.  Before  the  fourteenth  century  Mary  is 
usually  represented  as  humble  and  submissive,  as  if  listening  to  the 
mandate  of  God,  and  that  from  the  lips  of  a  superior  being.  But 
after  that  time  the  increased  veneration  paid  by  the  Church  to  the 
Virgin,  makes  her  the  superior  being,  and  her  manner  is  that  befit- 
ting the  Regina  angelorum."  The  work-basket,  typical  of  the 
industry  of  Mary,  is  seldom  omitted,  and  to  express  her  temperance 
a  dish  of  fruit  and  pitcher  of  water  are  frequently  introduced. 
There  are  certain  mystical  or  allegorical  representations  of  the  An- 
nunciation difficult  to  be  understood.  One  represents  a  unicorn 
taking  refuge  in  the  bosom  of  the  Virgin,  an  angel  near  by  winds 
a  hunting-horn,  while  four  dogs  crouch  near  him.  Its  signification  is 
given  thus  in  an  ancient  French  work  :  The  fabulous  unicorn,  who, 
with  his  single  horn,  was  said  to  wound  only  to  free  the  part 
wounded  fi*om  all  disease,  is  an  emblem  of  Jesus,  the  great  physician 
of  souls.  The  four  dogs  represent  Mercy,  Truth,  Justice,  and  Peace, 
as  the  four  considerations  which  influenced  the  Saviour  to  undertake 
the  salvation  of  men.  The  remainder  of  the  explanation  is  so  pecul- 
iar that  no  translation  can  give  the  exact  idea.  It  is  thus  :  "  Mais 
comme  c'e'toit  par  la  Vierge  Marie  qu'il  avoit  voulu  descendre  parmi 
les  hommes  et  se  mettre  en  leur  puissance,  on  croyoit  ne  pouvoir 
mieux  faire  que  de  choisir  dans  la  fable,  le  fait  d'une  pucelle  pou- 
vant  seule  servir  de  piege  a  la  licorne,  en  Tattirant  par  le  charme  et 
le  parfum  de  son  sein  virginal  qu^elle  lui  presentoit  —  enfin  Tange 
Gabriel  concourant  au  mystere  etoit  bien  reconnoissable  sous  les 
traits  du  veneur  aile  lan^ant  les  levriers  et  embouchant  la  trompette." 
Another  mode  of  representation  is  that  of  Mary,  standing  with  her 
hands  folded  over  her  breast  and  her  head  bowed.  She  is  beneath 
a  splendid  portico.  Gabriel  kneels  outside  and  extends  the  lily. 
Above  the  Padre  Eterno  appears  and  sends  forth  the  Saviour,  who 
is  in  the  form  of  the  Infant  Christ  bearing  his  cross,  who  floats 
downward  toward  the  earth,  preceded  by  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the 
form  of  the  Dove.  These  ideal  pictures  usually,  if  not  always,  date 
earlier  than  the  seventeenth  century.    March  25. 

The  Visitation  (Fr.  La  Visitation  de  la  Vierge ;  Ital.  La  Vis- 
itazione  di  Maria ;  Ger.  Die  Heimsuchung  Maria).      This  scene, 
which  represents  the  meeting  of  Mary  and  Elizabeth,  is  also  called 
The  Salutation  of  Elizabeth."      This  picture  is  not  easily  mistaken 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


189 


however  painted  :  sometimes  the  scene  is  in  the  garden  of  Zacharias, 
where  the  legend  relates  that  Mary  often  retired  to  meditate  upon 
the  great  honor  God  had  bestowed  upon  her.  It  is  told  that  one 
day  while  in  this  garden  the  Virgin  touched  a  flower  which  before 
then  had  no  perfume,  but  since  that  time  its  odor  is  delicious. 
Again  the  two  favored  women  meet  at  the  entrance  of  the  dwelling 
of  Elizabeth.  She  is  of  course  much  older  than  Mary,  but  should 
not  be  feeble  and  wrinkled.  Her  manner  fitting  one  who  recog- 
nizes the  Mother  of  her  Lord,  with  glad  humility,  but  showing  also 
a  certain  dignity,  being  herself  appointed  by  God  to  an  exalted 
motherhood.  Zacharias  and  Joseph  as  well  as  servants  are  fre- 
quently introduced,  and  sometimes  the  ass  on  which  Mary  has  rid- 
den. Zacharias  is  robed  as  a  priest  and  Joseph  as  a  traveller. 
Sometimes  Elizabeth  kneels,  as  if  to  make  more  impressive  her 
words,  "  And  whence  is  this  to  me,  that  the  mother  of  my  Lord 
should  come  to  me  ?  "     July  2. 

The  Nativihj  (Fr,  La 
Nativite;  Ital.  II  Presepio, 
II  Nascimento  del  Nostro 
Signore ;  Ger.  Die  Geburt 
Christi).  An  ancient  leg- 
end relates  that  about  the 
same  time  that  Csesar  Au- 
gustus decreed  "  that  all  the 
world  should  be  taxed,"  he 
was  warned  by  a  sibyl  of 
the  birth  of  Jesus.  The  pic- 
tures and  sculptures  repre- 
senting this  legend  are  not 
improperly  considered  in 
connection  with  those  of  the 
nativity  to  which  they  so 
distinctly  point.  The  leg- 
end relates  that  the  em- 
peror consulted  the  sibyl 
Tiburtina,  to  know  if  it 
were  right  that  he  should 
accept  the  divine  honors 
which  the  Senate  had  de- 
creed to  him  The  sibyl, 
after  meditating  some  days, 
took  the  emperor  alone, 
and  showed  him  an  altar. 
Above  this  altar  the  heavens  opened,  and  he  saw  a  beautiful  vir- 
gin bearing  an  infant  in  her  arms,  and  he  heard  a  voice  saying, 
"  This  is  the  altar  of  the  Son  of  the  living  God."    Then  Caesar 


Nativity. 


190 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


Augustus  erected  on  the  Capitoline  Hill  an  altar,  and  inscribed  it, 
"  Ara  primogeniti  Dei.''  The  Church  called  the  Ara-Cceli  stands  on 
the  same  spot  as  that  on  which  the  altar  was  built,  and  in  it  is  a  bas- 
relief  representing  this  legend,  to  which  an  incredible  antiquity  is  at- 
tached by  the  Church.  There  are  other  paintings  of  the  same  sub- 
ject. The  Nativity,  when  treated  as  an  historical  event,  is  represented 
in  a  stable,  at  midnight,  and  in  winter.  The  earlier  pictures  give 
Mary  an  appearance  of  suffering,  but  from  the  fourteenth  century 
it  is  not  so.  Sometimes  she  kneels  by  the  child,  or  points  to  the 
manger  in  which  he  lays,  or  bending  over  him  is  bright  with  the 
light  which  comes  from  the  child,  and,  according  to  the  legend,  illu- 
minated the  place  with  supernatural  light.  Joseph  is  sitting,  or 
leaning  on  his  staff,  and  frequently  holds  a  taper  or  other  light  to 
show  that  it  is  night.  The  angels  who  sang  the  "  Gloria  in  excelsis," 
were  at  first  represented  as  three,  but  in  later  pictures  their  number 
is  larger,  as  of  a  chorus.  The  ox  and  ass  are  invariably  seen.  The 
old  monks  had  various  ideas  associated  with  these  animals.  They 
regarded  them  as  the  fulfillment  of  prophecy  (Habakkuk  iii.  4), 
and  as  typical  of  the  Jews  and  Gentiles,  —  the  ox  representing  the 
former  and  the  ass  the  latter.  And  one  old  writer  relates  that 
they  warmed  the  heavenly  babe  with  their  breath.  Sometimes  the 
ass  is  with  open  mouth,  as  if  proclaiming  in  his  way  the  light  that 
had  come  to  lighten  the  Gentiles.  The  shepherds  are  frequently  in 
the  background.  Wlien  treated  as  a  mystery,  the  virgin  adores  the 
child  who  is  her  son  and  Gx)d.  It  is  sometimes  difficult  to  distin- 
guish between  this  and  a  "  Madre  Pia,"  but  usually  something  is  in- 
troduced to  denote  the  Nativity.  The  babe  lies  in  the  centre  with 
his  finger  on  his  lip,  as  if  to  say,  "  Verbum  sum,"  and  looks  upward 
to  the  angels,  who  in  the  heavens  sing  his  glory.  His  hand  rests 
sometimes  on  a  wheat-sheaf,  emblem  of  the  bread  of  life.  Mary 
kneels  on  one  side,  and  Joseph,  if  present,  also  kneels ;  and  often 
ansiels  adore  and  sustain  the  child.  Wlien  other  fio^ures  are  intro- 
duced  they  are  saints  or  votaries  for  whom  the  picture  was  painted. 
December  25. 

The  Adoration  of  the  Shepherds  (Fr,  L' Adoration  des  Bergers  ; 
Ger.  Die  Anbetung  der  Hirten ;  ItaL  L'Adorazione  dei  Pastori). 
The  shepherds  present  their  offerings  of  fruits,  lambs,  or  doves,  and 
with  uncovered  heads  show  their  devotion  with  rude  simplicity. 
Women,  dogs,  and  sheep  sometimes  accompany  them,  and  there  is  a 
legend  that  the  apostles  Simeon  and  Jude  were  of  their  number.  Some- 
times the  child  sleeps,  and  the  Virgin  or  Joseph  raise  the  covering  to 
show  him  to  the  shepherds.  When  angels  scatter  flowers,  they  are 
those  gathered  in  heaven. 

The  Adoration  of  the  Magi  {Ger,  Die  heilige  drei  Konigen  ;  Die 
Anbetung  der  Weisen  aus  dem  Morgenland ;  Ital.  L'Adorazione  de' 
Magia;  L'Epifania;  Fr.  L' Ad  oration  des  Rois  Mages).  This  picture, 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


191 


while  it  makes  one  of  the  historical  series  in  the  life  of  the  Virgin,  has 
another  deep  interest  in  the 
consideration  that  it  is  the 
expression  of  the  Epiph- 
any ;  of  the  manifestation  to 
Jews  and  Gentiles  of  God  in 
man.  The  legend  follows 
the  Scripture  account,  and 
the  reasonable  inferences  to 
be  deduced  from  it,  more 
closely  than  many  others. 
It  is,  that  these  Magi  were 
not  men  who  knew  the  arts 
of  magic,  but  wise  princes 
of  some  eastern  country. 
The  prophecy  of  Balaam 
had  been  held  in  remem- 
brance by  their  people,  "  I 
shall  see  him,  but  not  now ; 
I  shall  behold  liim,  but  not 
nigh  :  there  shall  come  a  Star 
out  of  Jacob,  and  a  sceptre 
shall  rise  out  of  Israel ;  "  and 
when  they  saw  a  star  differ- 
ing from  those  which  as 
learned  astronomers  they  had 
studied,  they  recognized  it 

as  the  star  of  the  prophecy,  (Taddeo  Gaddi.)   Adoration  of  the  Magi. 

and  at  once  followed  where  it  led.  It  has  been  said  that  the 
star  when  first  seen  had  the  form  of  a  child  bearing  a  sceptre  or 
cross.  The  wise  men  said  farewell  to  their  homes  and  friends,  and 
took  numerous  attendants  for  their  long  journey.  After  many  perils, 
the  climbing  of  mountains,  the  crossing  of  deep  streams,  and  many 
difficulties,  they  came  to  Jerusalem.  On  inquiry  for  the  King  they 
sought,  they  were  directed  to  Bethlehem,  and  asked  by  Herod  to 
bring  him  news  on  their  return  of  where  the  child  could  be  found, 
that  he  too  might  worship  him.  At  length  the  star  stood  still  over 
the  lowly  place  where  Jesus  was.  No  matter  how  different  may 
have  been  their  previous  imaginations  from  the  reality  they  found, 
their  faith  was  equal  to  the  demand  upon  it,  and  they  bowed  down, 
thus  giving  themselves  first,  and  then  presented  the  gold,  which  sig- 
nified that  Jesus  was  king ;  the  frankincense,  that  he  was  God ;  and 
the  myrrh,  that  he  was  suffering  man,  and  must  yield  to  death.  In 
return  for  their  gifts  Christ  gave  them  charity  and  spiritual  riches  in 
place  of  gold  ;  perfect  faith  for  their  incense  ;  and  for  myrrh  truth 
and  meekness  of  spirit.   The  Virgin  gave  them  as  a  precious  memo- 


192 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


rial,  one  of  the  linen  bands  in  which  she  had  wrapped  the  divine 
child.  Being  warned  in  a  dream  they  returned  not  to  Herod,  but 
went  another  way.  There  is  a  legend  that  their  homeward  journey 
was  made  in  ships ;  and  in  a  commentary  on  the  psalms  of  the  fifth 
century  it  is  said  that  when  Herod  found  that  they  had  escaped 
from  him  "  in  ships  of  Tarsus,"  he  burned  all  the  vessels  in  the 
port.  But  however  they  returned^  the  legend  relates  that  the  star 
guided  them  to  the  East  as  it  had  led  them  from  it,  and  they  reached 
their  homes  in  safety.  They  never  again  assumed  their  former 
state,  but  in  imitation  of  their  new  sovereign  they  gave  their  wealth 
to  the  poor,  and  went  about  to  preach  the  new  gospel  of  peace. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  after  forty  years,  when  St.  Thomas  went  to 
the  Indies,  he  met  there  these  wise  men  and  baptized  them ;  and  af- 
terwards as  they  continued  to  preach  they  went  among  barbarians 
and  were  put  to  death.  Long  after  their  remains  were  found,  and 
the  Empress  Helena  had  them  removed  to  Constantinople.  During 
the  first  Crusade  they  were  carried  to  Milan,  and  lastly  the  Emperor 
Barbarossa  placed  them  in  the  cathedral  at  Cologne,  where  they  re- 
main in  a  costly  shrine,  and  have  performed  many  wonderful  mira- 
cles. The  names  of  these  three  "  Kings  of  Cologne,"  as  they  are 
often  called,  are  Jasper  or  Caspar,  Melchior,  and  Balthasar.  In  the 
pictures  they  are  of  three  ages  :  the  first,  Jasper,  very  old  with  gray 
beard ;  Melchior  of  middle  age ;  and  Balthasar  always  young,  and 
sometimes  a  Moor  or  black  man,  to  signify  that  he  was  of  Ethiopia, 
and  that  Christ  came  to  all  races  of  men.  Sometimes  this  idea  is 
manifested  by  making  his  servant  black.  Their  costumes,  attend- 
ants, and  various  appointments  vary  with  the  time  in  which  the  pic- 
tures were  painted  and  the  nationality  of  the  artist.  Now  they  have 
all  the  usual  paraphernalia  of  royalty  as  it  was  seen  in  the  continen- 
tal capitals ;  again  the  knowledge  acquired  in  the  Crusades  was  em- 
ployed, and  all "  about  them  is  oriental  in  style ;  and  elephants, 
leopards,  and  even  monkeys  are  introduced  into  the  scene.  The 
holy  child  is  sometimes  held  by  his  mother,  and  sometimes  sits  alone, 
but  usually  raises  his  hand  as  if  in  blessing.  In  early  days  Joseph 
was  seldom  present,  but  as  more  veneration  was  accorded  him  by 
the  Church  he  was  more  frequently  made  an  actor  in  this  scene ;  he 
sometimes  only  looks  on  quietly,  again  he  receives  the  treasure,  and 
in  some  instances  the  Magi  seem  to  congratulate  him.  The  various 
modes  of  representing  this  inexhaustible  subject  would  fill  a  volume 
if  described.    January  6. 

The  Purification  of  the  Virgin ;  The  Presentation  of  Christ  in 
the  Temple  (Ital.  La  Purificazione  della  B.  Yergine ;  Ger.  Die 
Darbringung  im  Tempel).  The  Virgin,  after  the  birth  of  her  son, 
complied  with  all  the  requirements  of  the  law,  and  the  scene  in 
the  Temple  is  sometimes  called  the  Purification,  but  more  fre- 
quently it  is  regarded  as  referring  especially  to  the  Saviour ;  and 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


193 


many  representations  present  the  prophecy  of  Simeon  as  the  impor- 
tant event  in  the  scene.  It  is  also  considered  as  the  first  of  the 
seven  sorrows  of  the  Virgin,  and  the  words,  "  Yea,  a  sword  shall 
pierce  through  thy  own  soul  also,"  may  well  have  saddened  the 
heart  of  Mary,  and  given  her  a  warning  of  all  the  glorious  sorroivs 
which  were  before  her.  The  legend  of  Simeon  is  so  closely  con- 
nected with  this  scene  as  to  be  better  given  here  than  elsewhere. 
Two  hundred  and  sixty  years  b.  c,  Ptolemy  Philadelphus  requested 
the  high-priest  of  the  Jews  to  send  him  scribes  and  interpreters  to 
translate  for  him  the  Hebrew  Scriptures,  so  that  he  might  place  them 
in  his  library.  Six  learned  Rabbis  from  each  tribe  were  sent,  seventy- 
two  in  all,  and  among  them  Simeon,  who  was  full  of  learning.  His 
portion  was  the  book  of  Isaiah,  and  when  he  came  to  the  sentence, 
^'  Behold  a  Virgin  shall  conceive,"  he  feared  the  translation  might 
offend  the  Greeks,  and  after  much  consideration  he  rendered  it  a 
young  woman,  but  when  it  was  written,  an  angel  effaced  it,  and 
wrote  the  word  Virgin,  as  it  should  be.  Then  Simeon  wrote  it  again 
and  again,  and  each  time  it  was  changed.  When  this  was  done 
three  times  he  was  confounded,  and  as  he  meditated  on  this  it  was 
revealed  to  him  that  the  prophecy  should  not  only  be  fulfilled,  but 
that  he  "  should  not  see  death  till  he  had  seen  the  Lord's  Christ.'* 
So  he  lived  until  these  things  were  come  to  pass,  and  then  he  was 
led  to  the  temple  on  the  very  day  when  this  Virgin  Mother  came  to 
present  there  her  god-son.  And  there  it  was  that  he  exclaimed, 
when  his  prophecy  was  ended,  "  Lord,  now  lettest  thou  thy  servant 
depart  in  peace,  according  to  thy  word."  Anna  the  prophetess  acts 
her  part  in  this  picture.  She  prophesied  of  him  who  should  bring 
redemption  to  Israel,  but  she  did  not  take  the  child  ;  from  this  she 
has  been  regarded  as  an  image  of  the  synagogue,  which  had  prohp- 
esied  much  of  the  Messiah  but  failed  to  embrace  him  when  he 
came.  This  picture  is  frequently  called  the  Nunc  Dimittis,  which  is 
its  title  in  Greek  art.    February  2. 

The  Flight  into  Egypt  {Ital.  La  Fuga  in  Egitto ;  Fr.  La  Fuite 
de  la  Sainte  Famille  en  Egypte ;  Ger.  Die  Flucht  nach  ^gypten). 
There  are  various  legends  connected  with  this  journey  of  the  Holy 
Family  which  have  been  illustrated  by  artists.  One  is,  that  when 
escaping,  and  fearing  lest  they  should  be  overtaken  by  the  officers  of 
Herod,  they  came  to  a  place  where  a  man  was  sowing  wheat.  Mary 
said  to  him,  "  If  any  shall  ask  you  whether  we  have  passed  this  way, 
ye  shall  answer,  '  Such  persons  passed  this  way  when  I  was  sowing 
this  corn.' "  And  then,  by  a  miracle  of  the  infant  Jesus,  the  corn 
grew  in  one  night,  so  as  to  be  fit  for  the  harvest.  Next  day  the  of 
ficers  did  indeed  come,  and  the  man  who  was  cutting  his  wheat  in 
great  wonder  and  thankfulness  answered  as  he  had  been  instructed, 
and  the  pursuers  turned  back.  Another  legend  relates  that  the 
Holy  Family  encountered  a  band  of  robbers,  of  which  there  were 
13 


194 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


large  numbers  in  that  country  in  those  days.  One  of  the  rob- 
bers was  about  to  at- 
tack them,  when  an- 
other said,  "  Suffer 
them,  I  beseech  thee, 
to  go  in  peace,  and  I 
will  give  thee  forty 
groats,  and  likewise 
my  girdle."  This  of- 
fer the  first  robber  ac- 
cepted. The  second 
then  took  the  travel- 
lers to  a  safe  place, 
where  they  passed  the 
niorht.  The  Viro^in 
said  to  him,  "  The 
Lord  God  will  receive 
thee  to  his  right  hand 
and  grant  thee  pardon 
of  thy  sins  !  "  And 
this  was  done,  for  (ac- 
cording to  the  leg- 
end) these  were  the 
two  thieves  who  were 
crucified  with  Jesus, 
and  the  merciful  one 
was  the  same  who  went 
with  Christ  to  Para- 
dise. Another  po^^ular 
incident  of  this  jour- 
ney in  legendary  writ- 
(Zuccaro.)  The  Robber.  ingg  is  that  the  palm- 

tree  bent  its  branches  at  the  command  of  the  child,  to  shade  the 
Blessed  Virgin.  It  is  also  related  that  a  tree  which  grew  at  the  gate 
of  Heliopolis  and  was  venerated  as  the  home  of  a  god,  bowed  itself  at 
the  approach  of  the  Saviour,  and  that  all  along  their  route  wherever 
there  were  idols,  they  fell  on  their  faces  and  were  broken  in  frag- 
ments. And  this  is  assented  to  by  religious  authorities  as  well  as 
writers  of  legends.  There  are  many  ways  of  representing  the  three 
travellers  on  this  remarkable  journey,  but  all  easily  recognized. 
There  are  a  few  in  which  they  are  either  embarking,  or  are  in  a 
boat  crossing  one  of  the  streams  or  lakes  which  intercepted  the 
course  of  their  journey.  Sometimes  an  angel  assists  the  Virgin  to 
enter  and  sometimes  steers  the  boat.    See,  also,  St.  Joseph. 

The  Repose  of  the  Holy  Family  (Ital.  II  Riposo ;  Ger.  Die 
Kuhe  in  ^gypten ;  Fi\  Le  Repos  de  la  Sainte  Famille).    The  sub- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


195 


ject  of  this  picture  is  really  an  incident  of  the  Flight,  but  it  is  not 
found  in  very  early  art,  rarely,  if  at  all,  before  the  sixteenth  century. 
When  other  figures  than  those  of  the  Virgin  and  child  with  Joseph 
are  introduced  it  is  not  a  Riposo,  but  a  Holy  Family.  The  legend 
teaches  that  the  Holy  Family  reposed  beneath  a  sycamore  grove  near 
the  village  of  Matarea,  and  that  near  the  same  village  a  fountain 
sprang  forth  miraculously  for  their  refreshment.  This  gave  a  relig- 
ious interest  to  the  sycamore,  and  the  Crusaders  brought  it  to  Eu- 
rope, and  this  same  "  Fountain  of  Mary  "  was  shown  me  by  the  Arab 


(N.  Poussin.)    Flight  into  Egypt. 


guides,  a  fcAv  miles  from  Cairo.  Mary  is  sometimes  painted  dipping 
water,  and  again  washing  linen  in  this  fountain,  which  the  legend 
also  teaches  that  she  did.  In  pictures  of  the  Repose,  angels  often 
minister  to  the  comfort  of  the  travellers,  in  various  ways  and  with 
beautiful  propriety.  There  is  a  wild  ballad  legend,  which  probably 
originated  in  the  East,  which  gives  an  account  of  the  meeting  of  Mary 
and  a  Zingara  or  gypsy.  The  gypsy  crosses  the  palm  of  the  child 
and  tells  his  future,  according  to  their  custo^ns.    Her  prophecy  of 


196 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


all  his  sufferings  quite  overcomes  the  Yirgin,  but  the  Zingara  con- 
soles her  with  the  assurance  of  the  redemption  of  mankind  through 
all  these  sorrows,  and  ends  by  asking  forgiveness  of  her  sins,  instead 
of  the  usual  gold  or  silver  piece,  the  gypsies  love  so  well.  This  af- 
fords a  fine  subject  for  art,  and  has  been  painted.  When  the  Holy 
Family  are  seen  as  on  a  journey,  and  the  Saviour  represented  as 
walking,  it  is  the  return  from  Egypt  that  is  intended. 

The  Holy  Family  (Fr.  La  Sainte  Famille ;  ItaL  La  Sacra 
Famiglia,  La  Sacra  Conversazione).  From  the  return  to  Nazareth 
until  Jesus  is  twelve  years  old,  the  Gospels  record  no  events  of  the 
life  of  the  Virgin  or  her  Son.  Under  the  title  of  Holy  Family,  there 
are  hundreds  of  pictures  representing  the  imaginary  life  of  these  ex- 
alted ones,  whose  every  act  was  full  of  interest  to  all  the  world. 
The  simplest  form  is  that  of  two  figures,  the  Virgin  and  Child,  and 
frequently  she  is  nursing  the  babe,  sometimes  kisses  him,  or  amuses 
him  with  playthings,  and  again  watches  him  asleep,  and  ponders  in 
her  heart  upon  her  wonderful  child ;  which  last  are  called  "  II  Si- 
lenzio,"  or  Le  Sommeil  de  Jesus."  Where  there  are  three  figures 
it  is  generally  St.  John  who  is  added,  but  sometimes  St.  Joseph 
makes  the  third.  Four  figures  include  either  St.  John  and  Elizabeth, 
or  more  rarely  St.  Joseph  and  St.  John.  Five  figures  include  all 
vfho  have  been  named,  and  Zacharias  sometimes  makes  the  sixth. 
More  than  these  are  unusual,  although  there  are  pictures  in  which 
large  numbers  surround  the  Holy  Family  proper,  and  are  supposed 
to  represent  the  relatives  of  the  Saviour,  especially  those  who  were 
afterwards  to  be  his  disciples  and  followers.  But  any  description  of 
these  pictures  would  fill  volumes.  Many  of  them  are  designated  by 
some  prominent  peculiarity,  and  bear  such  names  as  "  La  Vierge  aux 
Cerises,"  "  Vierge  a  la  Diademe,"  "  La  Vierge  a  TOreiller  Verd," 
La  Madonna  del  Bacino,"  "  Le  Menage  du  Menuisier,"  "Le  Rabo- 
teur,"  etc.,  etc. 

The  Dispute  in  the  Temple  {ItaL  La  Disputa  nel  Tempio; 
Fr.  Jesus  au  milieu  des  Docteurs).  Wliile  this  is  the  representation 
of  a  very  important  act  in  the  life  of  Jesus,  it  is  quite  as  frequently 
made  one  of  the  series  from  the  life  of  the  Virgin,  and  "  is  one  of  the 
sorrowful  mysteries  of  the  Bosary."  And  in  regarding  these  pic- 
tures it  will  aid  one  to  consider  whether  it  is  the  wonderful  knowl- 
edge of  Jesus  or  the  grief  of  Mary  which  is  most  forcibly  portrayed. 

The  Death  of  Joseph  {ItaL  La  Morte  di  San  Guiseppe ;  Fr, 
La  Mort  de  St.  Joseph;  Ger.  Josef's  Tod).    See  St.  Joseph. 

The  Marriage  at  Cana  in  Galilee  (ItaL  Le  Nozze  di  Cana; 
Fr.  Les  Noces  de  Cana;  Ger.  Die  Hochzeit  zu  Cana).  Although 
Jesus  performed  his  first  miracle  at  this  marriage  feast,  it  was  not  a 
favorite  subject  in  early  art  on  account  of  the  Ioav  estimation  of  mar- 
riage among  the  monks  and  early  writers  of  the  Church.  But  those 
who  would  exalt  the  Virgin  regard  it  as  greatly  to  her  honor  that 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


197 


this  miracle  was  done  at  her  request.  His  answer,  that  his  hour  had 
not  yet  come,  and  his  performing  the  miracle  immediately  after,  is 
construed  to  mean,  that  although  the  period  had  not  fully  arrived  for 
the  use  of  his  power,  still  out  of  regard  to  his  mother  and  her 
wishes,  the  power  was  put  forth.  In  some  pictures  the  bride  is 
dressed  as  a  nun  about  to  make  her  professional  vows,  and  an  ancient 
legend  taught  that  this  was  the  marriage  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist 
with  Mary  Magdalene,  and  that  immediately  they  separated,  and  led 
chaste  and  austere  lives,  devoting  themselves  to  Christ's  service. 
After  this  marriage  the  Virgin  is  not  mentioned  in  the  Gospels  until 
the  time  of  the  Crucifixion. 

In  the  Rosary  two  scenes  from  the  Passion  of  Our  Lord  make 
two  of  the  mystical  sorrows  :  the  Procession  to  Calvary,  or  "II  Por- 
tamento della  Croce,"  and  the  Crucifixion.  It  was  in  the  Via 
Dolorosa,  through  which  Christ  bore  his  cross,  that  Mary  is  said 
to  have  fainted  at  the  sight  of  his  sufferings,  and  this  incident  is 
frequently  a  subject  of  painting.  The  celebrated  "  Lo  Spasimo  di 
Sicilia  "  of  Raphael,  represents  Mary  as  "  Notre  Dame  du  Spasme," 
or  "  du  Pamoison,"  as  the  French  call  the  mournful  festival  which 
they  keep  in  Passion  Week  to  commemorate  this  event.  The 
Italians  call  these  representations  ''II  Pianto  di  Maria,"  or  "La 
Madonna  dello  Spasimo."  But  in  all  these  pictures,  and  those  of 
the  Crucifixion,  Mary  is  a  prominent  figure.  There  has  been  much 
said  and  written  upon  the  impropriety  of  representing  the  Virgin  as 
too  much  overcome  with  her  grief,  as  it  is  thought  to  detract  from 
the  grandeur  of  her  character ;  and  it  would  seem,  that  although  the 
time  had  come  when  Simeon's  prophecy  was  fulfilled,  yet  her  heaven- 
given  patience  and  hope  should  have  sustained  her,  and  she  should 
have  endured  where  any  other  mother  might  have  fainted.  The 
legend  relates,  that  in  The  Descent  from  the  Cross,  when  Joseph  of 
Arimathea  and  Nicodemus  removed  the  nails  from  the  hands  of  the 
Saviour,  St.  John  took  them  away  secretly,  that  Mary  might  not  see 
them,  and  while  Mcodemus  drew  forth  those  which  held  the  feet, 
Joseph  so  sustained  the  body  that  the  head  and  arms  of  Jesus  hung 
over  his  shoulder.  Then  Mary  arose,  and  kissed  the  bleeding  hands 
of  her  beloved  Son,  and  clasping  them  tenderly  sank  to  the  earth  in 
anguish ;  and  this  action  is  usually  represented  in  pictures  of  the 
Descent  from  the  Cross.  In  the  Deposition!,  or  the  act  of  laying 
down  the  body  of  Christ,  the  Virgin  supports  her  son,  or  bends  ten- 
derly over  him.  In  older  pictures  she  is  fainting  here,  which  does 
not  meet  with  the  same  censure  from  critics  in  this  case,  as  in  the 
Procession  to  Calvary.  The  Virgin  is  also  seen  in  the  representa- 
tions of  the  Entombment,  although  this  is  not  painted  in  the  series 
of  the  Life  of  the  Virgin ;  and  in  this  as  in  the  others  her  sorrow  is 
oflen  expressed  by  fainting.  The  next  subject  in  course  is,  "  John 
conducting  the  Virgin  to  his  Home,"  which,  beautiful  as  it  is,  did  not 


198         •  LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


appear  in  works  of  art  until  the  seventeenth  century,  so  that  it  is 
not  frequently  seen.  Although  not  recorded  in  Scripture,  the  tradi- 
tions teach  that  Jesus  appeared  first  of  all  to  his  mother,  and  the 
story  is  thus  told  :  After  all  was  finished  Mary  retired  to  her  cham- 
ber, and  waited  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  promise  of  Christ's  resur- 
rection. And  she  prayed  earnestly,  "  Thou  didst  promise,  O  my 
most  dear  son,  that  thou  wouldst  rise  again  on  the  third  day. 
Before  yesterday  was  the  day  of  darkness  and  bitterness ;  and,  be- 
hold, this  is  the  third  day.  Eeturn  then  to  me,  thy  mother.  O  my 
son,  tarry  not,  but  come !  "  And  while  she  prayed,  a  company  of 
angels  surrounded  her,  and  they  waved  palms,  and  joyously  sang 
the  Easter  hymn,  Regina  Coeli  laetare.  Alleluia !  "  Then  Christ 
entered,  bearing  the  standard  of  the  cross,  and  followed  by  the 
patriarchs  and  prophets  whom  He  had  released  from  Hades.  All 
knelt  before  Mary,  and  thanked  her,  because  their  deliverance  had 
come  through  her.  But  she  greatly  desired  to  hear  the  voice  of 
Jesus,  and  He  raised  his  hand  in  benediction,  saying,  "  I  salute  thee, 
O  my  mother  !  And  she  fell  on  his  neck,  exclaiming,  "  Is  it  thou 
indeed,  my  most  dear  son?"  Then  He  showed  her  his  wounds,  and 
bade  her  be  comforted  since  He  had  triumphed  over  death  and  hell. 
Then  Mary  on  her  knees  thanked  Him  that  she  had  been  his  mother, 
and  they  talked  together  until  He  left  her  to  show  himself  next  to 
Mary  Magdalene.  The  representations  of  the  Apparition  of  Christ 
to  the  Virgin,  are  in  the  most  matter-of-fact  style,  and  poorly  portray 
the  spirit  of  this  beautiful  legend.  The  Ascension  of  Christ  is  the 
seventh  of  the  mystical  sorrows  of  the  Virgin,  for  by  it  she  was  left 
alone.  The  legends  teach  that  she  was  present,  and  gazing  at  the 
departing  Saviour  prayed,  My  Son,  remember  me  when  thou 
comest  to  thy  kingdom.  Leave  me  not  long  after  thee,  my  Son  !  " 
Mary,  when  represented  in  the  pictures  of  the  Descent  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  is  placed  in  the  centre  or  in  front,  as  Begina  et  Mater  Apos- 
tolorum.  It  has  been  objected  that  as  Mary  was  Wisdom,  or  the 
Mother  of  Wisdom,  she  needed  no  accession  of  understanding.  But 
if  the  testimony  of  Scripture  is  taken,  it  would  seem  proper  that 
she  should  be  represented  here  (Acts  i.  14,  and  ii.  1).  There 
is  no  authoritative  record  of  the  life  of  Mary  after  the  ascen- 
sion of  Jesus,  but  there  are  many  legends  which  speak  of  circum- 
stances of  her  life,  and  a  very  curious  one  of  her  death  and  assump- 
tion. One  which  has  been  the  subject  of  pictures  is  the  Communion 
of  Mary,  in  which  she  receives  the  sacrament  from  the  hand  of  St. 
John.  The  traditions  relate  that  when  the  persecution  began  at 
Jerusalem,  the  Virgin  went  with  St.  John  to  Ephesus,  accompanied 
by  Mary  Magdalene ;  also,  that  she  dwelt  on  Mount  Carmel  in  an 
oratory  which  the  prophet  Elijah  had  built,  and  from  this  she  became 
the  patroness  of  the  Carmelites,  and  the  sixteenth  day  of  July  is  set 
apart  by  the  Church  as  that  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  of  Mount 
Carmel. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


199 


The  Death  and  Assumption  of  the  Virgin  (Lat.  Dormitio, 
Pausatio,  Transitus,  Assiimptio,  B.  Virginis ;  Ital.  II  Transito  di 
Maria,  II  Sonno  della  Beata  Yergine,  L'Assunzione ;  Fr.  La  Mort  de 
la  Vierge,  L'Assomption ;  Ger.  Das  Absterben  der  Maria,  Maria 
Himmelfahrt) .  Sometimes  these  two  events  are  represented  together, 
the  death  making  the  lower,  and  the  apotheosis  the  upper  portion  of 
the  picture.  But  so  many  circumstances  of  the  legend  are  portrayed 
in  these  pictures  that  they  cannot  be  well  understood  without  a 
knowledge  of  it.  It  is  thus  given  by  Mrs.  Jameson  in  the  Legends 
of  the  Madonna  "  :  "Mary  dwelt  in  the  house  of  John  upon  Mount 
Sion,  looking  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  promise  of  deliverance ;  and 
she  spent  her  days  in  visiting  those  places  which  had  been  hallowed 
by  the  baptism,  the  sufferings,  the  burial  and  resurrection  of  her 
divine  Son,  but  more  particularly  the  tomb  wherein  he  was  laid. 
And  she  did  not  this  as  seeking  the  living  among  the  dead,  but  for 
consolation  and  for  remembrance.  And  on  a  certain  day,  the  heart 
of  the  Virgin  being  filled  with  an  inexpressible  longing  to  behold 
her  Son,  melted  away  within  her,  and  she  wept  abundantly.  And, 
lo !  an  angel  appeared  before  her  clothed  in  light,  as  with  a  gar- 
ment. And  he  saluted  her,  and  said,  '  Hail,  0  Mary !  blessed  by 
Him  who  hath  given  salvation  to  Israel !  I  bring  thee  here  a  branch 
of  palm  gathered  in  Paradise  ;  command  that  it  be  carried  before 
thy  bier  in  the  day  of  thy  death ;  for  in  three  days  thy  soul  shall 
leave  thy  body,  and  thou  shalt  enter  into  Paradise,  where  thy  Son 
awaits  thy  coming.'  Mary  answering,  said  :  '  If  I  have  found  grace 
in  thy  eyes,  tell  me  first  what  is  thy  name ;  and  grant  that  the  apos- 
tles, my  brethren,  may  be  reunited  to  me  before  I  die,  that  in  their 
presence  I  may  give  up  my  soul  to  God.  Also,  I  pray  thee,  that  my 
soul,  when  delivered  from  my  body,  may  not  be  affrighted  by  any 
spirit  of  darkness,  nor  any  evil  angel  be  allowed  to  have  any  power 
over  me.'  And  the  angel  said,  '  Why  dost  thou  ask  my  name  ?  My 
name  is  the  Great  and  the  Wonderful.  And  now  doubt  not  that  all 
the  apostles  shall  be  reunited  to  thee  this  day ;  for  He  who  in  former 
times  transported  the  prophet  Habakkuk  from  Judaea  to  Jerusalem 
by  the  hair  of  his  head,  can  as  easily  bring  hither  the  apostles.  And 
fear  thou  not  the  evil  spirit,  for  hast  thou  not  bruised  his  head,  and 
destroyed  his  kingdom  ?  '  And  having  said  these  words,  the  angel 
departed  into  heaven  ;  and  the  palm  branch  which  he  had  left  behind 
him  shed  light  from  every  leaf,  and  sparkled  as  the  stars  of  the 
morning.  Then  Mary  lighted  the  lamps  and  prepared  her  bed,  and 
waited  until  the  hour  was  come.  And  in  the  same  instant  John,  who 
was  preaching  at  Ephesus,  and  Peter,  who  was  preaching  at  Antioch, 
and  all  the  other  apostles  who  were  dispersed  in  different  parts  of 
the  world,  were  suddenly  caught  up  as  by  a  miraculous  power,  and 
found  themselves  before  the  door  of  the  habitation  of  Mary.  When 
Mary  saw  them  all  assembled  round  her,  she  blessed  and  thanked  the 


200 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


Lord,  and  she  placed  in  the  hands  of  St.  John  the  shining  palm,  and 
desired  that  he  should  bear  it  before  her  at  the  time  of  her  burial. 
Then  Mary,  kneeling  down,  made  her  prayer  to  the  Lord,  her  Son, 
and  the  others  prayed  with  her ;  then  she  laid  herself  down  in  her 
bed,  and  composed  herself  for  death.  And  John  wept  bitterly.  And 
about  the  third  hour  of  the  night,  as  Peter  stood  at  the  head  of  the 
bed,  and  John  at  the  foot,  and  the  other  apostles  around,  a  mighty 
sound  filled  the  house,  and  a  delicious  perfume  filled  the  chamber. 
And  Jesus  himself  appeared  accompanied  by  an  innumerable  com- 
pany of  angels,  patriarchs,  and  prophets ;  all  these  surrounded  the 
bed  of  the  Virgin,  singing  hymns  of  joy.  And  Jesus  said  to  his 
mother,  '  Arise,  my  beloved,  mine  elect !  come  with  me  from  Leba- 
non, my  espoused !  receive  the  crown  that  is  destined  for  thee ! ' 
And  Mary,  answering,  said,  '  My  heart  is  ready ;  for  it  was  written 
of  me  that  I  should  do  thy  will !  '  Then  all  the  angels  and  blessed 
spirits  who  accompanied  Jesus  began  to  sing  and  rejoice.  And  the 
soul  of  Mary  left  her  body,  and  was  received  into  the  arms  of  her 
Son ;  and  together  they  ascended  into  heaven.  And  the  apostles 
looked  up,  saying,  '  O  most  prudent  Virgin,  remember  us  when 
thou  comest  to  glory  ! '  and  the  angels  who  received  her  into  heaven, 
sung  these  words,  ^  Who  is  this  that  cometh  up  from  the  wilderness 
leaning  upon  her  Beloved,  she  is  fairer  than  all  the  daughters  of 
Jerusalem.'  But  the  body  of  Mary  remained  upon  the  earth ;  and 
three  among  the  virgins  prepared  to  wash  and  clothe  it  in  a  shroud ; 
but  such  a  glory  of  light  surrounded  her  form,  that  though  they 
touched  it  they  could  not  see  it,  and  no  human  eye  beheld  those 
chaste  and  sacred  limbs  unclothed.  Then  the  apostles  took  her  up 
reverently,  and  placed  her  upon  a  bier,  and  John,  carrying  the  celes- 
tial palm,  went  before.  Peter  sung  the  114th  Psalm,  'In  exitu  Israel 
de  Egypto,  domus  Jacob  de  populo  barbaro,'  and  the  angels  followed 
after,  also  singing.  The  wicked  Jews,  hearing  these  melodious  voices, 
ran  together ;  and  the  high-priest,  being  seized  with  fury,  laid  his 
hands  upon  the  bier,  intending  to  overturn  it  on  the  earth ;  but  both 
his  arms  were  suddenly  dried  up,  so  that  he  could  not  move  them, 
and  he  was  overcome  with  fear ;  and  he  prayed  to  St.  Peter  for  help, 
and  Peter  said,  '  Have  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  his  Mother,  and 
thou  shalt  be  healed ; '  and  it  was  so.  Then  they  went  on,  and  laid 
the  Virgin  in  a  tomb  in  the  Valley  of  Jehoshaphat.  And  on  the  third 
day,  Jesus  said  to  the  angels,  '  What  honor  shall  I  confer  on  her  who 
was  my  mother  on  earth,  and  brought  me  forth  ? '  And  they  answered, 
'  Lord,  suffer  not  that  body  which  was  thy  temple  and  thy  dwelling 
to  see  corruption  ;  but  place  her  beside  thee  on  thy  throne  in  heaven.' 
And  Jesus  consented ;  and  the  Archangel  Michael  brought  unto  the 
Lord  the  glorious  soul  of  our  Lady.  And  the  Lord  said,  '  Rise  up, 
my  dove,  my  undefiled,  for  thou  shalt  not  remain  in  the  darkness  of 
the  grave,  nor  shalt  thou  see  corruption ; '  and  immediately  the  soul 


/ 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


201 


of  Mary  rejoined  her  body,  and  she  arose  up  glorious  from  the  tomb 
and  ascended  into  heaven,  surrounded  and  welcomed  by  troops  of 
angels,  blowing  their  silver  trumpets,  touching  their  golden  lutes, 
singing  and  rejoicing  as  they  sung,  '  Who  is  she  that  riseth  as  the 
morning,  fair  as  the  moon,  clear  as  the  sun,  and  terrible  as  an  army 
with  banners?'  (Cant.  vi.  10.)  But  one  among  the  apostles  was 
absent ;  and  when  he  arrived  soon  after,  he  would  not  believe  in  the 
resurrection  of  the  Virgin ;  and  this  apostle  was  the  same  Thomas, 
who  had  formerly  been  slow  to  believe  in  the  resurrection  of  the 
Lord ;  and  he  desired  that  the  tomb  should  be  opened  before  him ; 
and  when  it  was  opened  it  was  found  to  be  full  of  lilies  and  roses. 
Then  Thomas,  looking  up  to  heaven,  beheld  the  Virgin  bodily,  in  a 
glory  of  light,  slowly  mounting  towards  the  heaven ;  and  she,  for 
the  assurance  of  his  faith,  flung  down  to  him  her  girdle,  the  same 
which  is  to  this  day  preserved  in  the  cathedral  of  Prato.  And  there 
were  present  at  the  death  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  besides  the  twelve 
apostles,  Dionysius  the  Areopagite,  Timotheus,  and  Hierotheus ;  and 
of  the  women,  Mary  Salome,  Mary  Cleophas,  and  a  faithful  hand- 
maid, whose  name  was  Savia."  The  French  legend  gives  Mary 
Magdalene  and  Martha  among  those  who  witnessed  the  Virgin's 
death.  The  full  illustration  of  this  legend  requires  seven  different 
scenes,  namely,  1.  The  Angel  announces  her  death,  and  presents  the 
palm.  2.  She  takes  leave  of  the  Apostles.  3.  Her  Death.  4.  The 
bearing  to  the  Sepulchre.  5.  The  Entombment.  6.  The  Assump- 
tion. 7.  The  Coronation  in  Heaven.  Frequently  two  or  three  of 
these  scenes  are  represented  together,  as,  the  Death  below,  and  the 
Assumption  above,  and  sometimes  the  Coronation  above  all.  The 
angel  who  announces  the  death  frequently  presents  a  taper  to  the 
Virgin.  It  was  customary  to  place  a  taper  in  the  hand  of  one  dying. 
The  death  of  the  Virgin  is  sometimes  called  the  Sleep  (II  Sonno  della 
Madonna),  as  it  was  in  early  times  a  belief  that  she  only  slept  before 
her  assumption.  This  doctri«e  has  since  been  declared  a  heresy. 
There  are  two  modes  of  treating  the  Assumption :  one  represents  the 
assumption  of  the  soul,  and  in  these,  Christ  receives  the  Spirit,  stand- 
ing near  the  death-bed  of  the  Virgin.  The  other  portrays  the  union 
of  the  soul  to  the  body,  when  it  rises  from  the  tomb,  and  leaving  earth 
and  all  earthly  things,  the  Mother  soars  to  meet  the  Son,  and  to 
share  his  glory  and  his  throne  for  evermore.  She  is  represented  in  a 
mandorla,  or  aureole,  crowned  or  veiled  (sometimes  both),  her  dress 
spangled  with  stars,  and  surrounded  by  adoring  angels.  These  are 
the  more  ideal  or  devotional  pictures.  The  strictly  historical  ones, 
have  the  wondering  apostles,  the  doubting  Thomas,  and  the  blossom- 
ing tomb  below ;  while  Mary,  quasi  aurora  consurgens  "  is  borne 
toward  heaven.  The  Legend  of  the  Holy  Girdle  belongs  properly  to 
the  consideration^  of  the  pictures  of  the  Assumption  of  the  Virgin. 
It  is  of  Greek  origin,  and  relates  that  St.  Thomas,  when  about  to  go 


202 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


to  the  far  East,  gave  the  girdle  to  one  of  his  disciples  for  safe  keep- 
ing. The  girdle  remained  for  a  thousand  years  guarded  from  pro- 
fane eyes,  and  was  in  the  possession  of  a  Greek  priest,  to  whom  it 
had  descended  from  a  remote  ancestry.  He  had  one  daughter,  dearly 
beloved,  to  whom  he  gave  the  care  of  the  sacred  girdle.  It  happened 
that  Michael  of  Prato,  who  had  gone  on  the  Crusade  of  1096,  had 
remained  in  Jerusalem  after  the  war  was  ended,  and  lodged  in  the 
house  of  this  priest.  He  too  loved  the  daughter,  and  wished  to 
marry  her,  but  the  father  would  not  consent.  Then  the  mother 
assisted  the  lovers  to  be  married,  and  gave  them  the  precious  girdle 
as  a  dowry.  They  fled,  and  embarked  for  Tuscany.  They  landed 
at  Pisa,  and  sought  the  home  of  Michael  at  Prato,  bearing  always 
with  them  the  casket  which  held  the  sacred  relic.  Michael  so  ven- 
erated his  treasure,  and  so  feared  lest  he  should  be  robbed  of  it,  that 
he  lighted  each  night  a  lamp  in  honor  of  it,  and  besides  placed  it 
beneath  his  bed  for  safety.  Now  although  he  did  this  without  know- 
ing that  it  was  wanting  in  respect  to  so  holy  a  relic,  it  displeased  his 
guardian  angels,  and  they  each  night  lifted  him  out  of  his  bed,  and 
laid  him  on  the  bare  earth.  At  length  Michael  fell  sick,  and  know- 
ing that  he  was  near  death 
he  delivered  the  girdle  to 
Bishop  Uberto,  command- 
ing him,  that  the  girdle 
should  be  preserved  in  the 
Cathedral  of  Prato,  and 
from  time  to  time  shown  to 
the  people.  This  injunc- 
tion Uberto  obeyed,  and 
carried  it  in  a  solemn  pro- 
cession to  the  church. 
There  it  remained  until 
1312,  when  an  attempt  was 
made  to  carry  it  away,  and 
sell  it  to  Florence.  This 
attempt  was  discovered, 
and  Musciatino,  the  would- 
be  thief,  was  put  to  death. 
Then  the  people  of  Prato 
resolved  to  erect  a  shrine 
for  the  safe  keeping  of  the 
girdle,  which  they  did,  and 
the  chapel  containing  it  is 
painted  to  represent  all  the 

(Cimabue.    S.Maria.    Novella.    Florence.)        circumstances  of  this  legend. 

The  Coronation  of  the  Virgin  is  not  always  easily  'distinguished 
from  the  allegorical  picture  called  the  "  Incoronata.  '   When  the  his- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


208 


torical  scene  is  intended, 
the  last  of  the  life  of  Mary, 
the  death-bed,  the  tomb, 
the  apostles,  and  weeping 
friends  are  seen  on  the  earth, 
while  above  the  Saviour 
crowns  his  Mother,  or  she 
is  seated  beside  him  on  his 
throne. 

Having  thus  briefly  con- 
sidered the  historical  pic- 
tures of  Our  Lady,  the 
mystical,  allegorical,  or 
strictly  devotional  ones  re- 
main.   These  are  :  — 

The  Virgin  Alone  (Lat. 
Virgo  Gloriosa ;  Ital.  La 
Yergine  Gloriosa ;  Fr.  La 
Grande  Yierge).  Pictures 
representing  the  Yirgin 
alone,  and  placing  her 
us  as  an  object  of 
veneration,  are  painted 
riety  of  ways,  and  to 


Hegiiia  Virginum. 


Mary 
before 
religious 
in  a  va- 
illustrate 


the  different  attributes  which  are 
accorded  to  her  by  the  Church. 
When  she  stands  alone,  with 
saints  or  apostles  apparently  sub- 
ordinate to  her,  she  is  The 
Woman;  The  Mother  of 
Humanity,  a  second  Eve  ;  and 
the  Yirgin  of  Yirgins.  When 
she  has  a  book  she  is  the  repre- 
sentation of  Heavenly  Wis- 
dom, —  Yirgo  Sapientissima. 
When  she  has  a  sceptre,  or  wears 
a  crown  over  her  veil,  or  is  en- 
throned alone,  she  is  the  Queen 
OF  Heaven,  —  Regina  Coeli. 
When  represented  as  above  and 
surrounded  by  worshipping  an- 
gels, she  is  Queen  of  Angels, 
—  Regina  Angelorum.  When 
veiled,  with  folded  hands,  and 
a  face  full  of  purity,  sweetness, 
and  all  imaginable  beauty,  she  is 
The  Madonna,  The  Blessed  Yirgin, 


Virgo  Sapientissima.    (Van  Eyck.j 

—  Santa  Maria  Yergine. 


204  LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 

U Incoronata ;  The  Coronation  of  the  Virgin  (JLat,  Coronatio 
Beat£e  Marise  Yirginis  ;  Ital.  Maria  Coronata  dal  divin  suo  Fig- 
lio ;  Fr.  Le  Couronnement  de  la  Sainte  Yierge ;  Ger.  Die  Kronung 
Maria).  This  picture  is  entirely  different  in  its  spirit  and  object 
from  the  historical  coronation  of  the  Virgin  before  described.  That 
picture  makes  the  closing  scene  in  the  life  of  Mary,  and  as  before 
remarked,  has  the  apostles,  the  tomb  of  flowers,  and  the  death-bed  to 
distinguish  it.  But  the  intent  of  the  devotional  coronation  is  to 
represent  the  Virgin  as  the  type  or  emblem  of  the  Spiritual  Church. 
She  is  received  into  glory  and  exalted  above  all  created  beings,  an- 
gels and  men,  as  the  Espoused,  the  Bride  of  Christ,  —  The  Church. 
Frequently  the  Saviour  has  an  open  book  with  the  inscription, 
"  Veni,  Electa  mea,  et  ponam  te  in  thronum  meum,"  etc.,  Come,  my 
Chosen  One,  and  I  will  place  thee  upon  my  throne."  Many  chapels 
are  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  in  this  character.  "  Capella  delF  In- 
coronata." The  dress  of  the  Virgin  is  most  beautiful,  and  frequently 
embroidered  with  suns,  moons,  and  golden  rays,  recalling  the  "  wom- 
an clothed  with  the  sun,"  which  John  describes   (Bev.  xii.  1). 

When  Mary  holds  the  child  and 
is  crowned,  it  is  not  a  corona- 
tion, but  an  adoration  of  her  as 
the  Mother  of  God. 

Our  Lady  of  the  Lnmac- 
ulate  Conception  (Lat.  Begina 
sine  labe  originali  concepta ; 
Fr,  La  Conception  de  la  Vierge 
Marie  ;  Ital,  La  Madonna  Puris- 
sima ;  Sp.  Nuestra  Senora  sin 
peccado  concepida,  La  Concep- 
cion ;  Ger.  Das  Geheimniss  der 
unbefleckten  Empfangniss  Ma- 
ria). This  picture  is  unknown 
in  the  early  days  of  art,  but  has 
been  almost  miraculously  multi- 
plied since  the  beginning  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  when  Paul 
V.  instituted  the  office  for  the 
commemoration  of  the  Immac- 
ulate Conception  of  the  Virgin, 
and  forbade  teaching  or  preach- 
ing the  opposite  doctrine.  The 
question  had  been  in  agitation 
a  decade  of  centuries,  and  in 
the  fifteenth  century  the  Sor- 
bonne  had  declared  in  its  favor ; 
but  the  opposition  of  a  large 


(Guiio.)   Immaculate  Conception. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


205 


portion  of  the  Church  prevented  its  actual  promulgation  as  a  doc- 
trine necessary  to  be  believed,  and  even  that  did  not  satisfy  the 
opposers  of  the  dogma,  as  a  much  later  controversy  proves.  The 
last  papal  ordinance  concerning  it  was  promulgated  in  1849  by 
Pius  IX.  The  model  for  the  Virgin  in  this  representation  is 
the  woman  of  the  Apocalypse.  She  is  young,  about  twelve  or  four- 
teen, her  robe  of  white  with  blue  mantle,  her  hands  folded  as  if  in 
prayer.  Her  beauty,  "  all  that  painting  can  express."  The  sun,  a 
vivid  light  about  her,  the  moon  beneath  her,  and  a  starry  crown 
above  her  head.  Sometimes  the  same  idea  of  the  Madonna  Puris- 
sima  is  represented  by  the  head  alone.  It  is  painted  very  young, 
with  white  vesture  and  flowing  hair.  Before  the  authorization  of 
the  doctrine  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception,  there  was  another 
mystical  representation  of  Mary, 
which  might  be  confounded  with 
those  of  the  Madonna  Purissi- 
ma.  It  is  the  embodiment  of 
the  idea  that  the  redemption  of 
the  human  race  existed  in  the 
mind  of  the  Creator  before  the 
beginning  of  the  world.  And 
this  is  expressed  by  the  Virgin 
surrounded  by  the  same  attri- 
butes as  in  the  Conception,  and 
sometimes  setting  her  foot  on 
the  serpent.  Mary,  made  thus 
a  second  Eve,  is  sometimes 
painted  as  an  accompaniment  to 
the  picture  of  Eve  holding  the 
apple.     The  date  of  the  picture     (Miniature.   16th  cent.)  Predestination. 

will  decide  the  question  between  these  subjects.    December  8. 

The  Mater  Dolorosa  (Jtal.  La  Madre  di  Dolore,  L'Addolo- 
rata  ;  Fr.  Notre  Dame  de  Pitie,  La  Vierge  de  Douleur ;  Sp,  Nues- 
tra  Senora  de  Dolores;  6^er.  Die  Schmerzhafte  Mutter).  There 
are  three  distinct  modes  of  representing  the  "Mourning  Mother,"  to 
whom  the  afl[licted  of  the  Roman  Catholic  world  address  their  pray- 
ers, feeling  that  she  has  felt  the  deepest  pangs  of  earthly  sorrow. 
As  the  Mater  Dolorosa,  she  is  alone,  seated  or  standing,  and  frequently 
only  a  head  or  half  figure ;  of  middle  age,  with  bowed  head, 
clasped  hands,  sorrowful  face,  and  streaming  eyes.  Often  the  bo- 
som is  pierced  with  one,  and  sometimes  with  seven  swords.  As  the 
Stabat  Mater,  she  stands  on  the  right  of  the  crucifix  while  St.  John 
is  on  the  left.  The  whole  figure  expresses  intense  sorrow.  She  is 
usually  wrapped  in  a  dark  violet  or  blue  mantle.  La  Pieta,  the 
third  Sorrowing  Mother,  when  strictly  rendered,  consists  only  of  the 


206 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


Virgin  and  the  dead  Christ.  Occasionally  lamenting  angels  are  in- 
troduced. This  representation  has  been  varied  in  every  possible 
way  which  could  express  sorrow,  resignation,  tenderness,  love,  and 
dignity.    But  usually  the  son  is  in  the  arms,  on  the  lap,  or  lying  at 

the  feet  of  the  Mother. 

The  Virgin  of  Mercy. 
Our  Lady  of  Succor 
(^Ital.  La  Madonna  di 
Misericordia ;  Fr.  Notre 
Dame  de  Misericorde ; 
Sp.  Nuestra  Senora  de 
Gracia ;  Ger.  Maria 
Mutter  des  Erbarmens). 
This  picture  represents 
the  Virgin  as  the  Merci- 
ful Mother  of  Humanity. 
In  it  she  sometimes 
stands  with  outstretched 
arms,  crowned  or  veiled  ; 
her  ample  robe  extended 
by  angels,  over  kneeling 
votaries  and  worshippers. 
Sometimes  these  em- 
brace all  ranks  and  ages, 
and  again  those  of  some 
particular  Order  who 
seek  her  aid.  But  these 
instances  are  rare,  as  she 
usually  bears  the  child 
in  her  arms,  signifying 
that  from  her  maternity 
itself  a  large  portion  of 
her  sympathy  is  derived. 
In  pictures  of  the  Day 
of  Judgment,  the  Virgin  is  also  represented  as  Our  Lady  of  Mercy. 
She  is  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Saviour,  while  John  the  Baptist 
kneels  on  the  left.  Mary  is  usually  a  little  lower  than  the  Saviour, 
but  has  been  represented  in  ancient  pictures  seated  by  his  side.  She 
appears  as  a  mediator  and  intercessor  for  mercy,  whatever  her  posi- 
tion. In  one  instance  this  inscription  is  painted  beneath  her  :  "  Maria 
Filio  suo  pro  Ecclesia  supplicat.'* 

The  Virgin  and  Child  Enthroned  {Lat.  Sancta  Dei  Genitrix,  Virgo 
Deipara ;  Ital.  La  Santissima  Vergine,  Madre  di  Dio  ;  Fr,  La  Sainte 
Vierge,  Mere  de  Dieu;  Ger,  Die  Heilige  Mutter  Gottes).  The  very 
title  of  these  pictures,  which  are  numberless,  explains  their  significa- 
tion.   They  are  devotional,  and  represent  the  mother  and  child  in 


(Greek  Mosaic.    A.  D.  642.  Lateran.) 
Virgin  of  San  Venanzio. 


208 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


various  positions,  and  with  such  differences  of  expression  and  senti- 
ment as  must  inevitably  result  from  the  vast  number  of  artists  who 
have  treated  this  subject.  Its  beauties  are  as  inexhaustible  as  they 
are  indescribable,  and  there  are  few  hearts  that  have  not  been  filled 
with  emotion  and  admiration  by  some  of  these  representations  of 
what  is  purest  and  holiest  in  woman. 

In  addition  to  the  Madonnas  already  mentioned,  there  are  numer- 
ous votive  Madonnas  both  public  and  private.  Their  titles  usually 
indicate  the  objects  for  which  they  were  painted,  as  those  painted 
for  the  Carmelites,  which  are  called  "  La  Madonna  del  Carmine.*' 
Others  denote  especial  acts,  as  "La  Madonna  della  Yittoria,"  or 
deliverance  from  dangers,  such  as  pestilence,  floods,  fire,  and  tem- 
pests, as  the  "  Madonna  di  San  Sebastiano,"  which  was  an  offering 
of  the  city  of  Modena  against  the  plague.  Family  votive  Madonnas 
usually  bear  the  name  of  those  who  offer  them,  as  the  "Madonna  di 
Foligno,"  which  was  consecrated  by  Sigismund  Conti  of  Foligni,  in 
fulfillment  of  a  vow  made  when  in  danger  from  a  severe  storm.  There 
is  scarcely  a  church  or  religious  institution  of  the  Romish  Church 
that  does  not  possess  at  least  one  votive  Madonna. 

The  Mater  Amabilis  (lial.  La  Madonna  col  Bambino;  Fr.  La 
Vierge  et  Tenfant  Jesus  ;  Ger.  Maria  mit  dem  Kind).  This  is  the  rep- 
resentation of  the  Virgin  as  The  Mother  alone,  and  its  exquisite 
beauty  and  feeling,  when  painted  as  it  should  and  may  be,  is  only  to 
be  felt,  it  cannot  be  told.    Here  "  she  is  brought  nearer  to  our  sym- 


(FraBartolomeo.)   Mater  Amabalis.        of    her    Son.       The    spirit  of 

these  pictures  is  the  same  as  that  of  some  Nativities  where  the 


pathies.  She  is  not  seated  in  a 
chair  of  state  with  the  accom- 
paniments of  earthly  power  ;  she 
is  not  enthroned  on  clouds,  nor 
glorified  and  star-crowned  in 
heaven  ;  she  is  no  longer  so  ex- 
clusively the  Yergine  Dea, 
nor  the  YiRGO  Dei  Genetrix  ; 
but  she  is  still  the  Alma  Ma- 
ter Redemptoris,  the  young, 
and  lovely,  and  most  pure 
mother  of  a  divine  Christ.  She 
is  not  sustained  in  mid-air  by 
angels ;  she  dwells  lowly  on 
earth ;  but  the  angels  leave 
their  celestial  home  to  wait 
upon  her."  A  version  of  this 
Madonna  is  styled  the  Madre 
Pia,  and  represents  the  Yirgin 
as  acknowledging  the  divinity 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


209 


Virgin  worships  the  babe,  but  the  accessories  determine  the  differ- 
ence between  them.  And  lastly  there  are  the  Pastoral  Madonnas, 
in  which  numerous  persons,  such  as  the  relatives  of  the  Virgin  or 
St.  Joseph,  the  saints  and  holy  personages,  are  introduced  as  partici- 
pating with  the  Virgin  in  the  adoration  of  the  child. 


(Francesco  Francia.)   The  Madonna,  St.  Dominick,  and  St.  Barbara. 


La  Madonna  della  Sedia.  The  pretty  and  poetical  legend  of 
this  famous  picture  relates  that  centuries  ago  there  dwelt  among  the 
Italian  hills  a  venerable  hermit,  whom  the  people  called  Father  Ber- 
nardo. He  was  renowned  for  wisdom  and  holiness,  and  many  visited 
him  for  advice  and  consolation.  He  often  remarked  that  though  his 
solitude  was  deep,  yet  he  was  not  entirely  alone,  for  he  had  two 
daughters,  one  that  spoke  to  him,  and  one  that  was  dumb.  Now  the 
first  was  the  daughter  of  a  vine-dresser,  named  Mary,  who  dearly 
loved  the  old  man,  and  often  brought  him  little  presents  of  such  things 
as  would  add  to  his  comfort,  and  cheered  him  with  loving  words  and 
■  14 


210 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


caresses.  But  his  dumb  daughter  was  a  "  brave  old  oak,"  that  grew 
near  his  hut  and  sheltered  it  with  its  branches.  This  tree  old 
Bernardo  greatly  loved,  and  in  the  heat  of  summer  he  brought  water 
to  its  thirsty  roots,  and  tended  and  talked  to  it  as  if  it  could  heai 
and  feel.  At  morning  and  evening  he  fed  the  birds  which  lived  in 
its  branches,  and  in  return  was  cheered  by  their  songs.  Many 
times  some  woodman  had  desired  to  cut  down  this  oak,  but  the 
prayers  of  the  old  man  deterred  him  from  the  deed.  There  came 
at  last  a  terrible  winter  when  the  mountains  were  laden  with  heavy 
snow,  and  then  the  sun  shone  warm,  and  fearful  freshets  came  down 
like  torrents,  and  swept  away  flocks  and  trees  and  even  hamlets  in 
their  course.  After  the  worst  had  subsided,  Mary  and  her  father 
went  to  see  how  it  had  fared  with  the  good  hermit,  fearing  that  he 
had  perished.  But  his  dumb  daughter  had  saved  his  life  ;  for  when 
the  thaw  came  on  he  had  sought  the  roof  of  his  hut,  but  he  was  soon 
convinced  that  there  was  no  safety  for  him  there,  and  as  he  lifted 
his  eyes  in  prayer  it  seemed  that  the  limbs  of  the  oak  beckoned  him 
to  come  to  them.  Then  he  climbed  with  confidence  among  its 
branches,  and  there  he  stayed  three  days.  While  below  him  his  hut 
and  everything  else  was  swept  away,  still  his  daughter  stood  firm. 
But  he  only  had  a  few  dry  crusts  to  eat,  and  when  Mary  arrived  he 
was  fainting  and  ready  to  die  from  cold  and  exposure.  Then  this 
talking  daughter  comforted  him,  and  took  him  to  her  home  until  his 
hut  could  be  rebuilt.  And  now  with  great  fervor  Bernardo  thanked 
God  for  his  preservation,  and  called  down  blessings  upon  his  two  chil- 
dren who  had  both  been  instruments  in  his  deliverance ;  and  he 
prayed  Heaven  to  distinguish  them  in  some  way  from  the  other  works 
of  his  hand.  Years  passed  on  and  the  hermit  was  laid  to  rest ;  his 
hut  was  in  ruins  forever,  and  the  oak  was  converted  into  wine-casks 
for  Mary's  father.  One  day  one  of  these  casks  was  in  an  arbor 
where  Mary,  now  a  wife  and  mother,  sat  with  her  two  boys.  As 
she  pressed  her  baby  to  her  breast  and  watched  the  elder  one  at 
play,  she  thought  of  the  old  hermit  and  wondered  if  his  blessing  would 
ever  be  fulfilled  in  her  or  these  children  ;  just  then  the  older  child 
ran  towards  her  with  a  stick  to  which  he  had  fastened  a  cross  ;  and 
at  the  same  time  a  young  man  approached,  whose  large  dreamy 
eyes  were  such  as  feast  on  beauty,  but  his  air  was  that  of  one  restless 
and  weary.  And  he  was  so  ;  for  he  had  long  been  seeking  a  model 
which  could  be  used  to  assist  him  in  painting  a  picture  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  and  her  son  which  floated  before  his  vision  ;  just  real  enough 
to  haunt  his  thoughts  continually,  and  just  unreal  enough  to  refuse  to 
be  rendered  by  his  brush.  This  was  Raphael  Sanzio  d'Urbino.  Now 
at  last  as  he  gazed  on  Mary  the  wish  of  his  heart  was  realized.  But 
he  had  only  a  pencil !  On  what  could  he  draw  ?  Just  then  the 
smooth  cover  of  the  huge  wine-cask  presented  itself  to  him,  and 
eagerly  he  drew  upon  it  the  outlines  of  Mary  and  her  babe.  This 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


211 


he  took  away  with  him,  and  rested  not  till  with  his  very  soul  he  had 
painted  his  wondrous  "  Madonna  della  Sedia/'  Thus  was  the  bless- 
ing and  desire  of  the  old  monk  realized,  and  together  his  two 
daughters  were  distinguished  for  all  time. 

St.  Marcella  is  represented  with  Lazarus  and  his  sisters.  All 
that  is  known  of  her  is  that  she  accompanied  these  saints  from  the 
East,  wrote  the  life  of  Martha,  and  preached  the  gospel  in  Sclavonia. 

St.  Mareellinus.    See  St.  Peter  Exorcista. 

St.  Margaret  {Ital.  Santa  Mar- 
garita ;  Fr.  Sainte  Marguerite  ; 
Ger,  Die  Heilige  Margaretha ; 
Greek  "Ay.  MapyapcTrjq,  Signifi- 
cation :  A  pearl.)  This  saint  was 
the  daughter  of  a  priest  of  Antioch. 
She  was  a  delicate  child,  and  was 
therefore  sent  to  a  nurse  in  the 
country.  This  woman  was  a  Chris- 
tian, and  brought  Margaret  up  in 
her  own  faith.  She  was  seen  one 
day  by  Olybrius,  who  was  govern- 
or of  Antioch,  and  her  beauty  so 
impressed  him  that  he  commanded 
that  she  should  be  brought  to  his 
palace,  and  he  determined  to  marry 
her  if  he  should  find  that  she  was 
free  born.  But  Margaret  declared 
herself  a  Christian,  to  the  great  hor- 
ror of  the  governor  and  her  rela- 
tives. The  latter  deserted  her,  and 
Olybrius  attempted  to  subdue  her 
by  torments  of  so  fearful  a  nature, 
that  he  could  not  endure  the  sight 
of  her  agony.  Still  she  yielded 
not.  She  was  then  imprisoned, 
and  in  her  dungeon  Satan  appeared 
to  her  in  the  shape  of  a  hideous 
dragon,  and  endeavored  to  confound  her  with  fear.  But  Margaret 
held  up  a  cross  and  he  fled  from  her — or  (as  another  legend  teaches) 
he  swallowed  her,  and  instantly  burst  asunder,  and  she  remained  un- 
hurt. He  then  came  in  the  form  of  a  man,  to  tempt  her  still  further, 
but  she  overcame  him,  and  placed  her  foot  upon  his  head,  and  com- 
pelled him  to  confess  his  vile  purpose  and  to  answer  her  questions. 
Again  she  was  taken  before  the  governor  and  tortured,  but  her  firm- 
ness was  so  great  that  she  not  only  remained  true  to  Christ  herself, 
but  she  converted  many  who  witnessed  her  devotion,  so  that  in  one 
day  five  thousand  converts  were  baptized.    Then  it  was  determined 


(Lucas  V.  Leyden.)    St.  Margaret. 


212 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


that  she  should  be  beheaded,  and  as  they  led  her  away  to  death  she 
prayed  that  in  memory  of  her  deliverance  from  the  womb  of  the 
dragon,  all  who  called  on  her  in  childbirth  should  be  safely  delivered. 
And  a  heavenly  voice  assured  her  that  her  prayer  should  be  granted. 
The  attributes  of  Margaret  are  the  palm  and  the  dragon.    She  is 

young  and  girlish,  and  thus  easily 
distinguished  from  St.  Martha, 
who  also  has  the  dragon.  Some- 
times she  has  pearls  around  her 
head,  and  rarely  the  daisy,  or 
marguerite,  which  is  so  named  in 
memory  of  her.  She  is  especially 
the  type  of  maiden  innocence  and 
humility. 

"  Si  douce  est  la  Marguerite." 
In  the  picture  by  Lucas  v. 
Leyden,  she  is  rising  from  the 
back  of  the  dragon,  while  a  piece 
of  her  robe  remaining  in  his  mouth 
indicates  that  he  had  swallowed 
her.  She  is  the  patroness  of 
women  in  childbirth,  and  patroness 
of  Cremona.  July  20.  A.  D. 
306. 

St.  Margaret  of  Cortona, 

whose  church  is  on  the  highest 
part  of  the  hill  upon  which  that 
city  is  built,  was  the  Magdalene  of 
that  locality.  She  was  born  in  Al- 
viano  in  Tuscany.  Her  mother 
died  when  she  was  still  in  infancy, 
and  the  cruelty  of  a  step-mother 
^  and  the  unkindness  of  her  father 
(Henry  Vli's  Chapel.)  St.  Margaret.  drove  her  to  desperation,  and  she 
led  an  evil  life  for  several  years.  One  of  her  lovers  was  assassinated 
when  returning  from  a  visit  to  her.  A  little  dog  which  was  with 
him  returned  to  Margaret  and  attempted  to  lead  her  to  the  body  of 
his  master,  by  pulling  at  her  robe  and  piteously  whining.  Wonder- 
ing at  length  that  her  lover  returned  not,  she  went  with  the  dog, 
and  was  horrified  to  find  the  murdered  body  of  him  she  sought. 
She  was  overcome  with  terror  and  repentance,  and  went  to  her 
father's  house.  But  the  step-mother  persuaded  her  father  to  refuse 
to  admit  her.  She  then  retired  to  a  vineyard  near  by,  and  here  in 
her  lonely  wretchedness  she  was  tempted  to  return  to  her  sinful  life. 
But  she  prayed  God  to  be  to  her  more  than  all  earthly  friends  could 
be,  and  while  so  praying  she  had  a  revelation  that  her  prayer  was 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


213 


answered,  and  she  was  directed  to  go  to  the  Franciscan  convent  at 
Cortona.  This  she  did,  and  entering  barefooted  and  with  a  cord 
about  her  neck,  she  threw  herself  before  the  akar  and  begged  to  be 
admitted  to  the  Order  as  an  humble  penitent.  She  was  refused 
this  privilege  until  she  should  prove  her  penitence  by  a  more  worthy 
life.  But  at  length  she  took  the  habit  of  St.  Francis  in  1272. 
Tradition  relates  that  as  she  knelt  one  day  before  the  crucifix, 
Christ  bowed  his  head  in  ansAver  to  her  prayers,  and  from  that  time 
she  was  held  in  great  reverence  by  the  people  of  Cortona.  She  is 
painted  young  and  beautiful,  her  dress  not  always  that  of  the  nun, 
but  usually  with  the  cord  for  a  girdle,  which  indicates  the  Third 
Order  of  St.  Francis.  Her  attribute  is  a  dog,  which  is  seldom 
omitted.    February  22,  A.  D.  1297. 

St.  Marina.  The  sad  story  of  this  saint  presents  a  touching 
illustration  of  self-sacrifice  and  unbounded  humility,  for  which  she 
was  greatly  reverenced.  Her  father  was  an  eastern  hermit,  and 
when  he  first  went  to  the  desert  he  so  longed  for  this  daughter 
whom  he  had  left  that  he  dressed  her  in  male  attire,  and  charged 
her  that  she  should  never  reveal  her  sex.  He  then  took  her  with 
him  to  his  retreat,  and  there  she  grew  up  as  Brother  Marinus.  She 
was  frequently  sent  to  the  shores  of  the  Bed  Sea  with  a  wagon  and 
oxen  to  get  supplies  for  the  monks.  The  man  to  whom  she  went 
had  a  daughter  who  was  found  to  be  with  child,  and  she  wickedly 
accused  Marinus  of  being  her  seducer.  Marina  did  not  deny  the 
charge,  and  the  abbot  ordered  her  to  be  scourged  and  driven  out  of 
the  walls  of  the  monastery,  and  the  wicked  woman  came  with  her 
child,  and  putting  it  in  the  arms  of  Marina  said,  "  There,  as  you  are 
its  father  take  care  of  it."  Then  Marina  cared  for  the  child.  She 
remained  outside  the  gate  of  the  convent  and  begged  a  support, 
which  was  given  her  with  many  insults,  as  to  a  vile  sinner.  But 
when  she  died  and  the  truth  was  discovered,  there  was  great  mourn- 
ing on  account  of  all  she  had  endured,  and  she  was  reverenced  for 
her  humility.  She  is  represented  with  the  dress  of  a  monk  and  the 
face  of  a  beautiful  woman  with  a  child  in  her  arms.  June  18. 
Eighth  century. 

Santa  Maria  Maddalena  de'  Pazzi  was  of  the  noble  Floren- 
tine family  whose  name  she  bears.  No  events  of  her  life  are  related, 
but  she  was  a  Carmelite  nun,  and  of  extreme  sanctity  and  humility, 
for  which  she  was  canonized.    May  27,  a.  d.  1607. 

Maria  Maggiore,  Santa.  This  splendid  church  at  Bome  is 
said  to  owe  its  origin  to  a  vision  related  in  a  legend,  called  that  "  of 
the  Snow  !  "  in  Italian,  "  della  Neve."  Giovanni  Patricio,  a  Boman 
who  was  rich  and  childless,  prayed  the  Virgin  to  direct  him  how  he 
should  dispose  of  his  wealth.  On  the  fifth  of  August,  a.  d.  352, 
Mary  came  to  him  in  a  dream,  and  commanded  him  to  build  a 
church  in  her  name  on  the  spot  where  he  should  find  snow  the  next 


214 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


morning.  His  wife  and  the  Pope  Liberius  each  had  the  same  vis- 
ion ;  and  early  next  day  they  all  went  to  the  Esquiline,  where  they 
found  miraculous  snow,  in  spite  of  the  heat  of  the  season.  Liberius 
traced  upon  it,  with  his  crosier,  the  plan  of  the  church,  and  here  the 
church  was  built.  Murillo  painted  two  beautiful  pictures  of  this 
legend,  called  in  Spanish  S.  Maria  la  Blanca. 

St.  Mark  {Lat.  S.  Marcus ;  Ital.  San  Marco  Evangelista  ;  Fr.  St. 
Marc ;  Ger.  Der  Heilige  Marcus).  This  Evangelist  was  not  an 
apostle,  but  a  convert  and  beloved  disciple  of  St.  Peter,  according  to 
the  tradition  of  the  Roman  Church.  He  journeyed  with  Peter  even 
to  Rome,  where  he  wrote  his  Gospel,  and  many  believe  it  to  have 
been  dictated  by  St.  Peter.  He  went  afterwards  to  preach  in  Egypt, 
and  after  spending  twelve  years  in  Libya  and  the  Thebais,  he 
founded  his  church  at  Alexandria.  On  account  of  his  miracles  the 
heathen  accused  him  of  being  a  magician,  and  at  length  when  cele- 
brating the  feast  of  their  god  Serapis,  they  seized  St.  Mark  and 
dragged  him  through  the  streets  with  cords  until  he  died.  Then  im- 
mediately there  fell  a  storm  of  hail,  and  a  tempest  of  lightning  came 
with  it  which  destroyed  his  murderers.  The  Christians  buried  his 
remains,  and  his  tomb  was  greatly  venerated.  But  in  a.  d.  815, 
some  Venetian  merchants  despoiled  the  tomb  of  its  sacred  relics  and 
took  them  to  Venice,  where  the  splendid  Cathedral  of  San  Marco 
was  erected  over  them.  There  are  many  legends  of  this  saint  which 
have  afforded  subjects  for  representations  in  art.  One  day  as  he 
walked  in  Alexandria,  it  is  said  that  he  saw  a  poor  cobbler  who  had 
wounded  his  hand  so  severely  with  an  awl,  that  he  could  no  longer 
support  himself  St.  Mark  healed  the  wound,  and  the  man,  who 
was  called  Anianus,  was  converted  and  afterwards  became  Bishop  of 
Alexandria.  The  famous  legend  of  the  preservation  of  Venice  is 
thus  related  :  It  was  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  February  in  1340.  The 
waters  had  been  rising  for  three  days,  and  on  this  night  there  was 
a  fearful  storm,  and  the  height  of  the  water  was  three  cubits  more 
than  ever  before.  An  old  fisherman,  with  difficulty,  reached  the 
Riva  di  San  Marco  with  his  little  boat,  and  determined  to  wait  there 
for  the  ceasing  of  the  tempest.  But  there  came  to  him  a  man  who 
entreated  him  to  row  over  to  San  Giorgio  Maggiore.  After  great 
persuasion,  the  fisherman,  believing  it  to  be  the  will  of  God,  con- 
sented. Having  arrived  at  San  Giorgio,  the  stranger  landed  and 
commanded  the  fisherman  to  await  his  return.  He  came  bringing 
with  him  a  young  man,  and  they  told  him  to  row  again  to  San  Mc- 
colo  di  Lido.  The  poor  man  doubted  his  ability  to  do  this,  but  they 
assured  him  he  might  row  boldly  and  strength  would  be  given  him. 
Then  they  came  at  last  to  San  Niccolo  di  Lido,  where  the  two  men 
landed.  When  they  returned  to  the  shore  there  was  a  third  one 
also.  Then  they  ordered  the  fisherman  to  row  beyond  the  two  cas- 
tles.   When  they  came  to  the  sea,  they  saw  a  bark  filled  with 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


215 


fi'ightful  demons  rapidly  approaching.  They  were  coming  to  over- 
whelm the  city  with  water.  Then  the  three  men  in  the  boat  made 
the  sign  of  the  cross  and  bade  the  demons  depart,  and  instantly  the 
bark  vanished,  the  sea  became  calm,  and  the  waters  began  to  sub- 
side. Then  the  men  commanded  the  boatman  to  land  them  at  the 
places  from  which  they  had  come.  He  did  so,  but  in  spite  of  the 
great  wonder  he  had  seen  he  demanded  of  the  third  that  he  should 
pay  him.  Then  the  man  replied,  "  Thou  art  right ;  go  now  to  the 
Doge  and  to  the  Procuratori  of  St.  Mark ;  tell  them  what  thou  hast 
seen,  for  Venice  would  have  been  overwhelmed  had  it  not  been  for 
us  three.  I  am  St.  Mark  the  Evangelist,  the  protector  of  this  city ; 
the  other  is  the  brave  knight  St.  George  ;  and  he  whom  thou  didst 
take  up  at  the  Lido  is  the  holy  bishop  St.  Nicholas.  Say  to  the 
Doge  and  to  the  Procuratori  that  they  are  to  pay  you  ;  and  tell  them 
likewise  that  this  tempest  arose  because  of  a  certain  schoolmaster 
dwelling  at  San  Felice,  who  did  sell  his  soul  to  the  Devil  and  after- 
wards hanged  himself."  The  fisherman  answered  that  his  story 
would  not  be  believed.  Then  St.  Mark  took  from  his  finger  a  ring, 
and  gave  it  to  the  man  and  said,  "  Show  them  this,  and  tell  them 
when  they  look  in  the  sanctuary  they  will  not  find  it."  And  he 
then  disappeared.  The  next  morning  the  fisherman  did  as  he  had 
been  commanded,  and  it  proved  as  he  had  been  told,  and  the  ring 
was  not  found.  Then  the  man  was  paid,  a  procession  was  ordained 
with  great  solemnity,  and  they  gave  thanks  to  God  and  the  three 
saints  for  their  miraculous  deliverance.  The  fisherman  received  a 
pension,  and  the  ring  was  given  to  the  Procuratori,  who  replaced  it 
in  the  sanctuary.  Another  legend  relates  that  a  certain  slave,  whose 
master  resided  in  Provence,  persisted  in  going  to  the  shrine  of  St. 
Mark  to  pray,  for  which  he  was  condemned  to  be  tortured.  As  the 
sentence  was  about  to  be  executed,  St.  Mark  descended  to  save  his 
votary.  The  executioners  were  confounded,  and  the  instruments  of 
torture  broken  and  made  unfit  for  use.  The  tradition  which  makes 
St.  Mark  the  amanuensis  of  St.  Peter  is  frequently  illustrated  in 
paintings.  The  attribute  of  St.  Mark  is  the  lion  either  with  or 
without  the  wings,  but  generally  with  them.  This  enables  one  to 
distinguish  him  from  St.  Jerome,  who  has  the  lion  unwinged.  He 
often  wears  the  robes  of  a  bishop.     April  25,  A.  d.  68. 

St.  Martha  (Ital.  Santa  Marta,  Yergine,  Albergatrice  di  Christo ; 
Fr.  Sainte  Marthe,  la  Travailleuse).  St.  Martha  is  highly  venerated 
on  account  of  having  persuaded  her  sister  Mary  to  listen  to  the 
words  of  Jesus,  thus  becoming  the  instrument  of  her  conversion. 
The  old  story  in  II  Perfetto  Legendario  "  goes  on  to  say  of  this,  "  Which 
thing  should  not  be  accounted  as  the  least  of  her  merits,  seeing  that 
Martha  was  a  chaste  and  prudent  virgin,  and  the  other  publicly 
contemned  for  her  evil  life  ;  notwithstanding  which,  Martha  did  not 
despise  her,  nor  reject  her  as  a  sister,  but  wept  for  her  shame,  and 


216 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


admonished  her  gently  and  with  persuasive  words,  and  reminded 
her  of  her  noble  birth,  to  which  she  was  a  disgrace,  and  that  Laza- 
rus, their  brother,  being  a  soldier,  would  certainly  get  into  trouble 
on  her  account.  So  she  prevailed  and  conducted  her  sister  to  the 
presence  of  Christ,  and  afterwards,  as  it  is  well  known,  she  lodged  and 
entertained  the  Saviour  in  her  own  house."  The  Provenc^al  legends 
relate  that  Martha  was  the  first  who  founded  a  convent  for  her  own 
sex,  and  the  first  one  after  the  Blessed  Virgin  who  consecrated  her 
virginity  to  God.  While  Mary  Magdalene  made  converts  in  Mar- 
seilles, Martha  preached  at  Aix.  In  those  days  there  was  a  fearful 
dragon  who  inhabited  the  river  Rhone,  and  ravaged  the  country  by 
night.  He  was  called  the  Tarasque,  and  on  the  scene  of  his  life  the 
city  of  Tarascon  now  stands.  Now  Martha  sprinkled  this  monster 
with  holy  water  and  bound  him  with  her  girdle,  and  then  he  was 
speedily  killed  by  the  people.  When  after  many  years  of  labor, 
death  approached,  she  desired  to  be  borne  to  some  spot  where  she 
could  see  the  sun  in  the  heavens.  She  wished  the  story  of  the 
Passion  of  Our  Lord  to  be  read  to  her,  and  as  she  died  she  said, 
"  Father,  into  thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit."  Her  attribute  is  a 
dragon,  and  she  may  be  known  from  St.  Margaret  by  the  pot  of 
holy  water,  while  the  latter  has  the  cross.  St.  Martha  also  bears 
sometimes,  a  cooking  utensil.  Patroness  of  cooks  and  housewives. 
June  29,  A.  D.  84. 

St.  Martial  was  Bishop  of  Limoges.  St.  Valerie  or  Valere  was 
a  beautiful  virgin  who  was  converted  by  his  teaching.  She  refused 
to  listen  to  the  addresses  of  the  Duke  de  Guyenne.  This  so  enraged 
the  duke  that  he  "  luy  fit  trancher  la  teste,  couronnant  sa  virginite 
d'un  martyre  bien  signale,  car  a  la  venue  d'un  chacun  elle  prit  sa 
teste,  et  la  porta  jusques  'au  pied  de  TAutel  ou  S.  Marcial  disect  la 
messe ;  le  bourreau,  la  suivant  pas-a-pas,  mourut  dans  TEglise, 
apres  avoir  clairement  proteste  qu'il  voyoit  les  anges  a  I'entour  de 
son  corps."  This  legend  is  illustrated  in  the  Cathedral  of  Limoges. 
She  is  represented  with  a  streak  around  the  neck.  Her  festival  is 
December  10. 

St.  Martin  of  Tours  ( Lat.  Sanctus  Martinus ;  Ital,  San  Mar- 
tino)  was  one  of  the  most  popular  saints  of  the  Middle  Ages.  He 
was  born  at  Saberia  in  Pannonia  in  the  time  of  Constantine  the 
Great ;  and  tradition  relates  that  on  one  occasion  the  Empress 
Helena,  who  was  the  daughter  of  a  wealthy  lord  of  Caernarvonshire, 
prepared  for  him  a  supper  with  her  own  hands,  and  waited  on  him 
while  he  ate  it,  in  the  same  manner  as  that  of  the  humblest  servant ; 
and  at  the  end  gathered  up  the  crumbs,  estimating  them  as  more 
precious  than  any  meal  she  could  eat  at  the  emperor's  board.  From 
a  child  St.  Martin  was  of  a  religious  disposition,  but  became  a  sol- 
dier before  he  was  baptized.  In  the  army  he  won  the  love  and 
respect  of  his  comrades,  by  the  great  excellences  of  his  character 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


217 


and  the  purity  of  his  life.  He  was  especially  noted  for  his  benevo- 
lence and  charities  to  the  poor.  The  winter  of  332  was  so  severely 
cold  that  large  numbers  perished  in  the  streets  of  Amiens  where  the 
regiment  of  St.  Martin  was  quartered.  One  day  he  met  at  the  gate 
a  naked  man,  and  taking  pity  on  him  he  divided  his  cloak  (for  it 
was  all  he  had),  and  gave  half  to  the  beggar.    That  night  in  a 


(Martin  Schoen.)    St.  Martin. 


dream  Jesus  stood  before  him,  and  on  his  shoulders  he  wore  the  half 
of  the  cloak  that  Martin  had  given  the  beggar.  And  he  said  to  the 
angels  who  attended  him,  "  Know  ye  who  hath  thus  arrayed  me  ? 
My  servant  Martin,  though  yet  unbaptized,  hath  done  this.*'  Then 
Martin  was  immediately  baptized  ;  and  he  was  at  the  time  twenty- 
three  years  old.  At  forty  years  of  age,  he  desired  to  leave  the  army 
that  he  might  devote  all  his  time  to  God's  service.  Then  the  legend 
tells,  that  Julian  the  Apostate  being  now  emperor,  accused  him  of 
cowardice,  saying  that  he  wished  to  be  dismissed  to  avoid  a  coming 
battle.  But  Martin  replied,  he  would  be  set  naked  in  the  front  of 
the  fight,  armed  only  with  the  cross,  and  not  fear  to  meet  the  enemy. 


218 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


Then  the  Emperor  commanded  men  to  guard  him  and  see  that  this 
was  done  ;  but  before  the  time  of  battle  peace  was  made,  and  it  was 
not  attempted.  After  leading  a  religious  life  for  years  he  was  made 
Bishop  of  Tours  in  371.  He  did  many  miracles,  healing  the  sick, 
and  even  restoring  to  life  the  son  of  a  poor  widow.  One  day  as  he 
celebrated  mass  in  his  cathedral  he  asked  his  deacon  to  clothe  a  na- 
ked beggar  before  him.  The  deacon  did  not  comply  readily,  and  St. 
Martin  took  off  his  priestly  robe  and  gave  it  to  the  wretched  man  ; 
and  while  he  officiated  at  the  altar  a  globe  of  fire  was  seen  above  his 
head,  and  as  he  elevated  the  Host,  his  arms  (being  exposed  on  ac- 
count of  the  absence  of  the  garment)  were  covered  by  a  miracle, 
with  chains  of  gold  and  silver,  which  angels  fastened  upon  them. 
His  evenness  of  temper  was  an  especial  virtue,  and  he  was  never  an- 
gry, neither  spoke  he  ever  unkindly.  In  spite  of  all  he  was  greatly 
tempted,  and  Satan  one  day  ridiculed  him,  because  he  so  soon  re- 
ceived the  sinful  who  repented.  St.  Martin  replied,  "  O,  most 
miserable  that  thou  art !  if  thou  also  couldst  cease  to  persecute  and 
seduce  wretched  men,  if  thou  also  couldst  repent,  thou  also  shouldst 
find  mercy  and  forgiveness  through  eJesus  Christ !  "  It  is  due  to  the 
wonderful  energy  of  St.  Martin  that  paganism  was  rooted  out  of  that 
portion  of  Gaul  where  he  ruled  the  Church.  He  destroyed  temples, 
demolished  the  images  of  the  gods,  and  was  impervious  to  all  threats 
and  dangers  which  he  incurred  by  so  doing.  The  demons  whom  he 
thus  disenthroned  often  appeared  to  him,  sometimes  in  hideous  forms, 
and  again  with  all  the  beauty  of  Yenus ;  but  he  overcame  all  fear 
and  all  temptation,  and  steadfastly  served  God.  At  length  he 
wearied  of  the  numbers  who  pressed  about  him,  and  he  built  himself 
a  cell  away  from  Tours,  between  the  rocks  and  the  Loire.  From 
this  the  monastery  of  Marmoutier  arose.  St.  Martin  not  only  op- 
posed heathenism,  he  battled  against  blind  superstition  as  well. 
There  was  near  Tours  a  chapel  where  the  people  worshipped  a  mar- 
tyr, as  they  believed.  But  Martin  thought  them  mistaken.  He 
went  and  stood  on  the  sepulchre  and  prayed  that  it  might  be  revealed 
to  him,  if  any  martyr  rested  there.  Soon  a  dark  form  appeared  and 
told  St.  Martin  that  he  was  a  robber  whose  soul  was  in  hell,  and 
whose  body  rested  beneath  him,  where  he  stood.  Then  the  saint 
destroyed  the  chapel  and  altar  as  he  did  those  of  the  pagans.  He 
was  once  invited  to  sup  with  the  emperor.  The  cup  was  passed  to 
Martin  before  his  majesty  drank,  with  the  expectation  that  he  would 
touch  it  to  his  lips,  as  was  the  custom.  But  a  poor  priest  stood  be- 
hind Martin,  and  to  the  surprise  and  admiration  of  all,  the  saint  pre- 
sented the  full  goblet  to  him,  thus  signifying  that  a  servant  of  God  de- 
served more  honor,  however  humble  his  station,  than  any  merely  earthly 
rank.  From  this  legend  he  has  been  chosen  the  patron  of  drinking  and 
all  joyous  meetings.  It  is  said  that  on  an  occasion  when  St.  Martm 
sought  an  interview  with  the  Emperor  Valentinian,  his  majesty  did 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


219 


not  lise  from  his  chair  as  the  saint  approached,  whereupon  the  chair 
took  fire  beneath  him,  and  necessity  compelled  him  to  do  what  rev- 
erence had  no  power  to  effect.  This  unique  legend  has  been  repre- 
sented in  art.  St.  Martin  died  after  being  bishop  more  than  thirty 
years,  and  many  heard  the  songs  of  the  angels  who  bore  him  to 
Paradise.  From  the  time  of  his  death  he  has  been  an  object  of  ex- 
treme veneration.  In  art  he  is  usually  represented  with  a  naked 
beggar  at  his  feet.  A  goose  when  introduced  alludes  to  the  season 
of  his  feast,  which  occurs  at  the  time  when  geese  are  eaten,  and  is 
called  in  England,  Martinmas-tide.  In  France  this  festival  was 
kept  like  the  last  day  of  the  Carnival,  —  a  time  of  feasting  and  ex- 
cess.   November  11,  A.  d.  397. 

St.  Martina  was  a  Roman  virgin.  A  church  dedicated  to  her 
stands  at  the  foot  of  the  Capitoline  Hill.  It  is  on  the  left  as  we  de- 
scend to  the  Forum  from  the  Ara  Coeli.  Here  from  very  ancient 
times  there  was  a  chapel  where  the  people  venerated  this  saint,  who 
was  martyred  in  the  time  of  Alexander  Severus.  In  1634,  when 
repairing  this  chapel,  a  sarcophagus  was  discovered  built  into  the 
foundations,  which  contained  the  body  of  a  young  woman,  while  the 
head  was  in  a  separate  casket.  This  being  regarded  as  the  body  of 
the  saint,  called  the  attention  of  all  Rome  to  the  place,  and  even  the 
Pope  was  filled  with  enthusiasm  at  the  discovery.  Cardinal  Fran- 
cesco Barberini  undertook  to  rebuild  the  church,  and  Pietro  da 
Cortona  very  solemnly  dedicated  his  talents  to  the  work  of  adorning 
the  same.  The  church  was  given  to  the  academy  of  painters  and 
consecrated  to  St.  Luke,  their  patron.  It  now  bears  the  name  of 
"  San  Luca  e  Santa  Martina."  Pietro  da  Cortona  left  all  his  fortune 
to  the  chapel  of  St.  Martina,  which  he  had  himself  painted.  She  is 
represented  as  young  and  beautiful,  with  different  instruments  of  tor- 
ture, signifying  the  manner  of  her  death.    January  30. 

St.  Mary  of  Egypt  {Ital.  Santa  Maria  Egiziaca  Penitente  ; 
Fr.  Sainte  Marie  TEgyptienne,  La  Gipesienne,  La  Jussienne).  The 
legend  of  this  Mary  Egyptiaca  is  much  older  than  that  of  Mary 
Magdalene.  It  was  in  a  written  form,  and  fully  believed  in  the  sixth 
century,  for  a  very  ancient  tradition  taught  that  a  female  hermit  had 
dwelt  for  years  in  Palestine,  and  there  died.  The  legend  as  now 
given  is  rested  on  the  authority  of  St.  Jerome,  and  relates  that  a 
woman  named  Mary,  whose  wickedness  far  excelled  that  of  the  Mag- 
dalene, dwelt  in  Alexandria,  and  after  seventeen  years  of  abandon- 
ment to  sin,  in  the  year  365,  as  she  walked  one  day  near  the  sea,  she 
saw  a  vessel  about  to  depart  well  filled  with  pilgrims.  On  inquiry 
she  found  that  they  were  going  to  Jerusalem  to  keep  the  feast  of  the 
true  cross.  She  was  seized  with  anxiety  to  go  also,  but  had  no 
money  to  pay  her  passage.  Then  she  sold  herself  to  the  sailors  and 
pilgrims  and  so  accomplished  the  journey.  Arriving  at  Jerusalem 
she  thought  to  enter  the  church  with  the  others,  but  when  she 


220 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


reached  the  entrance  some  invisible  power  held  her  so  that  she  could 
not  go  in,  and  as  often  as  she  tried  to  cross  the  threshold,  so  often 
was  she  driven  back.  Then  a  sense  of  all  her  sins  came  over  her 
and  she  was  overcome  with  sorrow,  and  prayed  to  God  for  grace  and 
pardon.  Then  the  restraining  power  was  taken  away,  and  she  en- 
tered the  church  on  her  knees.  She  then  bought  three  loaves  of 
bread  and  went  into  the  desert,  even  beyond  Jordan.  Here  she  re- 
mained in  deepest  penitence.    She  drank  only  water,  and  subsisted 


(Pietro  da  Cortona.)   Death  of  St.  Mary  of  Egypt. 

on  roots  and  fruits,  and  her  three  loaves,  which  were  constantly  re- 
newed by  a  miracle.  Her  clothing  wore  out  and  dropped  from  her ; 
then  she  prayed  God  to  clothe  her  and  her  prayer  was  answered, 
for  her  hair  became  a  cloak  about  her,  or  as  others  say,  a  heavenly 
robe  was  brought  her  by  an  angel.  She  had  lived  thus  forty-seven 
years  when  she  was  found  by  Zosimus,  a  priest.  She  begged  him  to 
keep  silence  concerning  her,  and  to  return  at  the  end  of  a  year  and 
bring  with  him  the  holy  wafer  that  she  might  confess  her  sins  and 
receive  the  communion  before  her  death.  Zosimus  complied  with 
her  desires  and  returned  to  her  in  a  year.    He  was  not  able  to  cross 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


221 


the  Jordan,  and  Mary  was  miraculously  assisted  to  cross  to  him. 
After  receiving  the  sacrament  she  requested  him  to  leave  her 
again  to  her  solitary  life,  and  to  return  at  the  end  of  another 
year.  When  the  year  was  passed  and  he  went  again  to  meet 
her,  he  found  her  lying  dead,  with  her  hands  folded  as  in  prayer. 
And  upon  the  sands  these  words  were  written  :  O,  Father  Zosi- 
mus,  bury  the  body  of  the  poor  sinner,  Mary  of  Egypt !  Give  earth 
to  earth,  and  dust  to  dust,  for  Christ's  sake  ! ''  When  he  endeav- 
ored to  do  this  he  found  he  had  not  sufficient  strength,  for  he  was 
an  old  man.  Then  a  lion  came  and  assisted  him,  digging  with  his 
paws ;  and  when  the  body  of  Mary  was  in  the  grave  the  lion  went 
quietly  away  and  Zosimus  returned  home,  praising  God  for  the 
mercy  He  had  shown  to  the  penitent  woman.  She  is  represented  in 
art  as  old,  worn,  and  wasted,  with  longhair,  and  three  loaves  of  bread 
in  her  hand.  When  united  with  Mary  Magdalene  the  contrast  of 
age,  appearance,  and  dress  is  very 
striking.  The  pictures  of  her 
penance  are  sometimes  mistaken  for 
the  Magdalene,  but  if  the  vase, 
skull,  and  crucifix  are  wanting  it  is 
the  Mary  of  Egypt.  A  chapel  in 
the  Church  of  St.  Merry  in  Paris 
is  painted  with  scenes  from  her 
life.     April  2,  A.  D.  433. 

St.  Mary  Magdalene  (Lat. 
Sancta  Maria  Magdalena  ;  Fr,  La 
Madeleine ;  La  Sainte  Demoiselle 
pecheresse  ;  Ital.  Santa  Maria  Mad- 
dalena ;  *S^.  Santa  Maria  Magda- 
lena). The  writings  which  would 
fill  volumes,  the  numberless  ser- 
mons which  have  exhausted  the 
talents  of  the  preachers  and  the 
patience  of  the  hearers,  the  learned 
arguments  of  tongue  and  pen,  and 
the  wild,  imaginative  legends 
which  have  each  and  all  essayed 
to  give  and  establish  the  truth  about 
this  saint,  have  left  her,  in  the 
heart  of  the  world,  what  the  gospel 
alone  and  unaided  makes  her,  —  the 
first  sinning  and  repenting  woman 
forgiven  through  the  love  of  Jesus, 
a  glorious  beacon  of  hope,  shining 
down  through  all  ages,  silently 
saying  to  every  other  magdalene,  "  go 


(Statue,  DoDatello,  Florence  )   St.  Mary- 
Magdalene. 

and  sin  no  more."    It  has 


222 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


never  been  decided  whether  she  was  differently  spoken  of  as  "  Mary 
of  Bethany,"  the  "  woman  who  was  a  sinner/'  and  she  out  of 
whom  Jesus  cast  seven  devils/'  or  whether  she  was  but  one  of 
these ;  but  the  legend  as  it  is  generally  represented  in  western 
art  is  as  follows  :  Mary  Magdalene  was  the  daughter  of  noble, 
if  not  royal  parents,  and  the  sister  of  Martha  and  Lazarus. 
Syrus,  their  father,  had  vast  riches,  and  at  his  death  they  were  di- 
vided equally  between  the  three.  The  castle  of  Mary,  called  Mag- 
dalon,  was  in  the  district  of  Magdala  on  the  shore  of  the  sea  of  Tibe- 
rias. Lazarus  was  by  profession  a  soldier.  Martha  was  virtuous 
and  discreet,  but  Mary,  giving  herself  up  to  luxury  and  idleness, 
became  at  length  so  wicked  as  to  be  called  "  The  Sinner.  "  Mar- 
tha, loving  her  sister,  and  filled  with  sorrow  by  her  sinful  life,  con- 
tinually rebuked  her  and  finally  persuaded  her  to  listen  to  the  teach- 
ings of  Jesus.  The  seven  evil  spirits  which  Jesus  cast  out  were  the 
seven  deadly  sins,  to  which  she  had  been  subject  before  her  conver- 
sion. The  entertainment  of  the  Saviour  at  the  house  of  Martha,  the 
supper  at  the  house  of  Simon  the  Pharisee,  the  devotion  of  Mary  to 
Jesus,  and  the  scenes  connected  with  his  death  and  resurrection,  are 
given  in  the  legend  as  in  the  Gospels.  It  then  adds,  that  after  the 
ascension  of  Christ,  Lazarus  and  his  sisters  with  their  handmaid 
Marcella,  Maximin  who  had  baptized  them,  and  the  blind  man  to 
whom  Jesus  had  given  sight,  called  Cedon,  were  placed  in  a  boat 
with  no  rudder  to  steer  and  no  oars  or  sails  to  speed  them,  and  set 
adrift.  This  was  done  by  the  heathen.  They  were  carried  by 
winds  and  waves  to  a  harbor  which  proved  to  be  that  of  Marseilles. 
The  people  of  that  place  were  also  heathen,  and  they  refused  to 
give  the  castaways  food  or  shelter.  Then  they  found  a  resting- 
place  in  the  porch  of  a  temple,  and  Mary  began  to  preach  of  Christ, 
and  to  urge  the  people  to  forsake  their  idols.  And  both  the  sisters 
did  such  miracles  that  many  were  converted  and  baptized.  When 
Maximin  was  dead,  Lazarus  was  made  first  bishop  of  Marseilles.  But 
Mary  desired  to  live  in  solitude,  and  retired  to  a  frightful  wilderness, 
where  she  lived  thirty  years  a  life  of  penitence  and  sorrow  for  the 
sins  she  never  ceased  to  regret  and  bewail.  It  was  supposed  she 
was  dead,  but  at  length  a  hermit  whose  cell  was  in  the  same  desert 
as  her  own  saw  a  miraculous  sight  which  disclosed  the  truth  that 
she  still  lived.  It  appears  that  often  in  her  hunger  and  exhaustion 
angels  had  ministered  to  her,  and  during  the  last  years  of  her  life 
they  bore  her,  each  day,  up  into  regions  where  she  could  hear  celes- 
tial harmonies,  and  see  the  glory  prepared  for  those  who  repent  and 
believe  in  God.  It  was  this  daily  ascension  that  the  hermit  saw,  and 
he  hastened  to  the  city  to  relate  the  wonderful  vision.  Legends 
disagree  concerning  the  place  and  manner  of  her  death.  Some  re- 
late that  it  occurred  in  the  desert,  where  angels  watched  over  her 
and  eared  for  her,  while  others  say  she  died  in  a  church,  after  re- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


223 


ceiving  the  last  sacrament  from  St.  Maximin.  The  scene  of  her 
solitary  penance  is  said  to  be  the  site  of  the  monastery  of  La  Sainte 
Beaume,  or  the  Holy  Cave,  between  Marseilles  and  Toulon.  In  the 
thirteenth  century  some  remains,  believed  to  be  those  of  St.  Lazarus 
and  Mary  Magdalene,  were  found  about  twenty  miles  north  of  Toulon, 
at  a  place  called  St.  Maximin.  Here  a  church  was  built  in  1279  by 
Charles  count  of  Provence,  brother  of  St.  Louis  king  of  France.  A 
few  years  later  Charles  was  made  prisoner  by  the  king  of  Aragon, 
and  he  ascribed  the  praise  of  his  liberation  to  Mary  Magdalene,  who 
was  his  chosen  protectress.  She  performed  many  miracles,  one  of 
which  has  been  frequently  represented  in  pictures.  A  certain 
prince  of  Provence  came  to  Marseilles  with  his  wife  to  sacrifice  to 
the  pagan  gods.  They  listened  to  the  preaching  of  Mary,  and  were 
persuaded  to  leave  the  service  of  the  idols.  One  day  the  husband 
told  Mary  of  his  strong  desire  to  have  a  son.  And  Mary  asked 
him  if  he  would  believe  if  his  prayer  were  heard.  And  he  promised 
that  he  would  believe.  Not  long  after  this  prince  decided  to  go  to 
Jerusalem  to  see  St.  Peter,  and  to  ascertain  if  the  doctrines  of  the 
Magdalene  were  the  same  as  those  of  that  saint.  The  wife  deter- 
mined to  go  also,  but  he  said,  "  How  shall  that  be  possible,  seeing 
that  thou  art  with  child,  and  the  dangers  of  the  sea  are  very  great  ?  " 
But  she  so  entreated  him  that  he  granted  her  request,  and  they 
departed.  After  a  day  and  night  had  passed  a  terrible  storm  arose. 
The  pains  of  childbirth  came  upon  the  woman,  and  in  the  midst  of 
the  tempest  the  babe  was  born  and  the  mother  died.  The  sailors 
wished  to  throw  the  body  into  the  sea,  believing  that  the  storm 
would  not  cease  while  it  remained  in  the  ship ;  but  the  prince  per- 
suaded them  with  entreaties  and  money  to  retain  it  awhile.  Soon 
they  arrived  at  an  island,  where  he  laid  his  wife  on  the  shore,  and 
placing  the  babe  on  her  breast  he  covered  them  with  his  cloak  and 
wept  bitterly,  and  said,  "  O,  Mary  Magdalene  !  to  my  grief  and 
sorrow  didst  thou  come  to  Marseilles  !  Why  didst  thou  ask  thy 
God  to  give  me  a  son  only  that  I  might  lose  both  son  and  wife  to- 
gether ?  O,  Mary  Magdalene !  have  pity  on  my  grief,  and  if  thy 
prayers  may  avail,  save  at  least  the  life  of  my  child  !  "  Then  he 
proceeded  to  Jerusalem  and  remained  there  two  years.  And  he 
was  instructed  by  St.  Peter  and  saw  the  places  which  had  been 
hallowed  by  the  life  and  death  of  the  Saviour.  Now  on  his  return 
he  landed  at  the  island  where  he  had  left  the  body  of  his  wife,  that 
he  might  weep  at  her  last  resting-place.  Who  can  tell  his  surprise 
when  he  saw  his  child  running  about  on  the  shore  ?  And  when  the 
infant  saw  the  strange  man,  he  was  afraid  and  hid  beneath  the  cloak 
that  covered  his  dead  mother.  Then  when  the  father  approached, 
the  mother  also  opened  her  eyes  and  smiled,  and  put  out  her  arms 
to  embrace  her  husband.  Then  did  the  prince  greatly  rejoice,  and 
they  all  returned  to  Marseilles  and  threw  themselves  at  the  feet  of 


224 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


the  Magdalene  and  were  baptized.  There  are  legends  (though 
never  accepted  by  the  Church)  which  relate  that  an  attachment  ex- 
isted between  St.  John  the  Evangelist  and  Mary  Magdalene ;  and 
even  that  the  feast  which  Jesus  attended  at  Cana  of  Galilee  was  on 
the  occasion  of  the  marriage  of  these  two  saints.  Donatello's  fa- 
mous statue,  carved  in  wood,  stands  above  her  altar  in  the  baptis- 
tery in  Florence.  It  represents  her  as  the  wasted,  sorrowing  peni- 
tent, and  is  strangely  in  contrast  with  the  loveliness  of  many  repre- 
sentations of  her.  Her  proper  attribute  is  the  jar  of  ointment. 
This  signifies  either  the  ointment  which  she  brake  upon  the  feet  of 
the  Saviour,  or  that  which  she  prepared  for  the  anointing  of  his  cru- 
cified body.  It  varies  in  size  and  form  ;  is  usually  either  in  her 
hand  or  standing  near  her,  though  sometimes  borne  by  an  attending 
angel.  The  colors  of  the  dress  of  the  Magdalene  are  red,  expressing 
love  ;  violet,  penitence  and  mourning  ;  and  blue,  constancy.  Some- 
times she  wears  a  violet  tunic  and  red  mantle.  Some  Spanish 
pictures  represent  her  with  dark  hair ;  but  it  should  be  luxuriant, 
fair,  and  golden.  Patroness  of  frail  and  penitent  women  ;  —  of  Pro- 
vence and  Marseilles.    July  22,  A.  d.  68. 

St.  Mary  the  Penitent  {ltd.  Santa  Maria  Penitente  ;  Fr, 
Sainte  Marie,  la  Penitente).  This  Mary  was  the  niece  of  the  her- 
mit Abraham,  and  her  life  was  mostly  spent  in  the  deserts  of  Syria. 
She  too  was  a  sinner  and  became  a  penitent,  to  whose  prayers  God 
granted  miraculous  answers.  Her  father  had  large  riches  and  lived 
in  splendor.  When  he  died  the  daughter  was  carried  to  her  her- 
mit uncle  to  be  religiously  instructed.  She  was  seven  years  old 
when  taken  to  the  desert.  Abraham  built  a  cell  close  to  his  own 
and  opening  into  it  by  a  window,  and  there  placed  the  child.  Here 
he  taught  her  to  pray,  to  sing  praises,  to  recite  psalms,  and  to  de- 
spise the  pleasures  of  the  world.  Thus  Mary  lived  until  she  was 
twenty  years  old.  At  this  time  there  came  a  young  hermit  to  the 
cell  of  Abraham  to  receive  his  instructions.  The  beauty  of  the 
face  which  he  beheld  by  chance  through  the  window,  and  the  music 
of  the  voice  which  chanted  holy  praises  so  near  him,  inflamed  his 
heart  with  love  for  the  maiden,  and  he  tempted  her  to  sin,  forget- 
ting his  vows.  When  she  at  length  reflected  on  what  she  had  done, 
she  so  feared  her  uncle  that  she  fled  from  his  sight  and  went  to  a  re- 
mote place  where  for  two  years  she  lived  a  shameless  life  of  sin. 
Now  on  the  very  night  that  she  fled,  Abraham  dreamed  that  a  hid- 
eous dragon  came  to  his  cell  and  found  there  a  white  dove  and  took 
it  away  with  him.  When  he  awoke  the  dream  troubled  him.  Again 
when  he  slept  he  saw  the  same  dragon,  and  he  crushed  his  head 
with  his  foot,  and  took  the  dove  from  its  maw  and  put  it  in  his  bosom. 
Then  the  dove  came  to  life,  and  spreading  its  wings,  flew  to  heaven. 
Then  the  hermit  knew  that  this  dream  referred  to  his  beloved  Mary. 
He  took  his  staff  and  went  forth  seeking  her  through  all  the  land. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


225 


After  a  long  time  he  found  her,  and  when  she  was  overcome  with 
shame  and  sorrow  he  encouraged  her,  and  promised  himself  to  do 
penance  for  her.  Then  she  cried  out,  "  O,  my  father  !  if  thou  think- 
est  there  is  hope  for  me,  I  will  follow  thee  whithersoever  thou  goest, 
and  kiss  thy  footsteps  which  lead  me  out  of  this  gulf  of  sin  and 
death  !  "  Then  he  comforted  her,  and  leaving  behind  all  her  jewels 
and  gay  attire  she  returned  with  him  to  the  cell  in  the  desert.  Here 
she  ministered  to  her  aged  uncle  and  lived  a  life  of  contrition  and 
penance.  And  for  many  years  after  his  death  she  still  continued 
the  same  life,  and  so  great  was  the  virtue  of  her  prayers  that  the 
sick  who  were  brought  to  her  were  cured  when  she  prayed.  When 
she  died  she  was  borne  by  angels  to  Paradise.  Conversion  of  Mary 
the  Penitent,  October  29. 

St.  Matthias  {Ital.  San  Mattia ;  Fi\  St.  Mathias ;  Lat.  Sane- 
tus  Matthgeus)  was  the  last  apostle,  chosen  to  take  the  place  made 
vacant  by  the  treachery  of  Judas.  St.  Denis  relates  that  he  was  se- 
lected by  the  Apostles  on  account  of  a  beam  of  divine  splendor 
which  pointed  to  him.  This  has  been  represented  in  art.  He 
preached  in  Judsea  and  was  martyred  by  the  Jews.  His  attribute 
is  a  lance  or  an  axe.    February  24. 

St.  Matthew  {LaL  S.  Mattheus ;  Ger. 
Der  Heilige  Matthaus ;  Fr.  St.  Matthieu  ; 
Ital.  San  Matteo).  Among  the  Evangelists 
St.  Matthew  holds  the  first  place  on  ac- 
count of  having  written  his  Gospel  first. 
In  representations  of  the  disciples  he  is 
the  seventh  or  eighth.  He  has  not  been 
a  popular  subject  of  art.  The  Scripture 
account  only  tells  that  his  name  was  Levi, 
and  his  office  that  of  tax-gatherer.  A 
Hebrew  by  birth.  When  Christ  called 
him,  he  immediately  left  all  else  to  obey ; 
and  he  also  made  a  great  feast  in  his  house, 
at  which  Jesus  with  his  disciples  sat  with 
publicans  and  sinners  to  the  horror  of  the 
Jews.  After  the  separation  of  the  Apos- 
tles, Matthew  preached  twenty-three  years 
in  Egypt  and  Ethiopia.  At  the  capital  of 
Ethiopia,  he  was  honorably  entertained  by 
that  eunuch  whom  Philip  had  baptized.  He 
raised  the  son  of  the  King  of  Egypt  from 
the  dead,  and  cured  his  daughter,  called 
Iphigenia,  of  leprosy,  and  placed  her  at 
the  head  of  a  society  of  young  maidens, 
dedicated  to  the  service  of  God.  A 
heathen  king  determined  to  take  her  away  from  this  community,  on 
15 


St.  Matthew. 


226 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


account  of  which  his  palace  was  burned,  and  he  became  a  leper. 
Wlien  this  saint  was  in  Ethiopia  a  terrible  fear  was  over  the  people, 
on  account  of  two  skillful  magicians  who  put  many  under  their  spells, 
and  afflicted  them  with  dreadful  diseases.  St.  Matthew  overcame 
these  sorcerers,  and  ended  their  power  by  baptizing  the  people.  All 
this  is  related  in  the  Perfetto  Legendario."  The  manner  of  his  death 
is  doubtful.  The  Greek  legend  says  he  died  a  peaceful  death,  but 
the  western  traditions  teach  that  he  suffered  martyrdom  in  the  time 
of  Domitian.  His  proper  attributes  are  the  purse  when  represented 
as  an  apostle ;  the  pen  and  book,  with  an  attendant  angel,  when  he 

is  the  Evangelist.  The  angel 
holds  the  inkhorn  or  the  book  ; 
or  points  to  heaven,  or  dic- 
tates. Greek  pictures  of  his 
death  show  him  dying  peace- 
fully, while  an  angel  swings  a 
censer  ;  other  representations 
give  the  martyrdom  by  the 
sword.  September  21,  a.  d. 
90. 

St.  Maurelio  or  Maure- 
iius  was  the  first  bishop,  and 
is  the  patron  saint  of  Ferrara 
and  Imola.  His  image  is  on 
the  coins  of  Ferrara.  He 
was  beheaded. 

St.  Maurice  (Lat.  Sanc- 
tus  Mauritius  ;  Ital.  San  Mau- 
rizio ;  Ger.  Der  Heilige 
Moritz ;  F7\  St.  Maurice). 
The  legend  of  St.  Maurice 
and  the  Theban  Legion  is 
one  of  the  most  ancient  of  all 
legends,  and  has  been  so  re- 
ceived as  to  have  almost  the 
same  importance,  as  if  it  were 
a  strictly  historical  fact.  The 
Theban  Legion  was  so  called 
because  levied  in  the  Thebaid. 
It  was  composed  of  6,QQQ  men, 
all  of  whom  were  Christians. 
It  was  commanded  by  Mau- 
rice, who  was  of  illustrious 
descent.  This  legion  was  so 
characterized  by  valor,  piety, 
and  fidelity,  that  it  had  received  the  title  of  Felix.    When  Maximin 


(Hemshirk.)    St.  Maurice. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


227 


was  about  to  enter  Gaul,  he  ordered  this  legion  to  accompany  him 
thither.  Wlien  they  had  passed  the  Alps  the  legion  was  divided  :  a  part 
went  to  the  Rhine,  and  the  remainder  halted  on  the  banks  of  Lake 
Geneva.  Here  Maximin  ordered  a  great  sacrifice  to  the  gods,  with 
all  the  games  and  festivities  which  accompanied  the  pagan  rites. 
There  Maurice  and  his  soldiers  separated  themselves  from  the  army, 
and  pitched  their  camp  at  a  place  now  called  Saint  Maurice,  but 
then,  Aganum.  Maximin  then  made  it  known  that  the  purpose  of  his 
expedition  was  the  extermination  of  the  Christians,  and  threatened 
the  Theban  Legion  with  his  vengeance  if  they  did  not  join  in  the 
sacrifices.  They  steadfastly  refused  to  do  so  or  to  assist  in  the  per- 
secution of  the  Christians.  Then  Maximin  commanded  the  men  to 
be  decimated.  Those  to  whom  the  lot  fell  rejoiced  in  being  thus 
chosen  to  testify  to  their  faith,  and  those  who  were  left  were  still  so 
determined  that  they  were  decimated  the  second  time.  Even  when 
the  third  summons  came  Maurice  replied,  "  O  Caesar !  we  are  thy 
soldiers,  but  we  are  also  the  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ.  From  thee  we 
receive  our  pay,  but  from  Him  we  have  received  eternal  life.  To 
thee  we  owe  service,  to  him  obedience. .  We  are  ready  to  follow  thee 
against  the  Barbarians ;  but  we  are  also  ready  to  suffer  death,  rather 
than  renounce  our  faith,  or  fight  against  our  brethren."  Then  Max- 
imin commanded  that  the  rest  of  the  army  should  surround  these 
men,  and  murder  every  one  with  the  sword.  He  was  obeyed,  —  not 
one  was  left  alive.  But  some  were  trampled  to  death,  some  hanged, 
and  some  shot  with  arrows.  Maurice  knelt  down  and  was  beheaded. 
At  Cologne,  and  in  other  places,  many  more  who  belonged  to  the 
Theban  Legion  suffered  martyrdom.  Savoy,  Piedmont,  and  parts  of 
Germany  abound  in  these  soldier  saints.  The  name  of  Maurice 
signifies  "  a  Moor,"  and  he  is  represented  as  one  in  some  pictures.  He 
is  dressed  in  armor,  and  bears  the  standard  and  the  palm.  In  Italian 
pictures  he  wears  a  red  cross  on  his  breast,  which  is  the  badge  of  the 
Sardinian  Order  of  St.  Maurice.     September  22,  A.  d.  286. 

St.  Maurus  was  the  son  of  a  Boman  senator,  and  was  placed 
under  the  care  of  St.  Benedict  at  Subiaco,  when  only  twelve  years 
old.  He  became  one  of  the  most  famous  disciples  of  his  great 
Master.  At  one  time  Maurus  expressed  his  satisfaction  at  the  death 
of  one  Florentius,  who  had  attempted  to  poison  St.  Benedict,  and 
had  committed  many  crimes  which  disgraced  his  office  (for  he  was  a 
priest)  ;  this  expression  so  shocked  his  teacher  that  he  commanded 
him  to  atone  for  his  sin  by  a  severe  penance.  After  the  death  of 
Benedict,  Maurus  introduced  the  Benedictine  Order  into  France,  and 
founded  the  monastery  of  St.  Maure-sur-Loire  (then  called  Glan- 
feuil),  where  he  died.  His  attribute  is  the  book  or  censer.  January 
15,  A.  D.  584. 

St.  Mercuriale  was  the  first  Bishop  of  Forli  in  the  second  cen- 
tury. His  attribute  is  a  dragon,  representing  sin,  which  the  saint  had 
vanquished.    He  is  patron  saint  of  Forli. 


228 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


St.  Mercurius  {Gr,  "Ay.  'Ep/^^s.  Signification  :  God's  Messen- 
ger).  The  representations  of  this  saint  belong  especially  to  Greek 
art.  He  was  an  officer  whom  Julian  the  Apostate  put  to  death  on 
account  of  his  Christian  faith.  When  Julian  afterwards  fought 
against  the  Persians,  St.  Basil  had  a  vision  in  which  he  saw  a 
woman  seated  on  a  throne,  and  surrounded  by  angels.  To  one  of 
these  she  said,  Go  forthwith,  and  awaken  Mercurius,  who  sleepeth 
in  the  sepulchre,  that  he  may  slay  Julian  the  Apostate,  that  proud 
blasphemer  against  me  and  against  my  Son  !  "  As  soon  as  the  vision 
had  passed  Basil  went  to  the  tomb  of  Mercurius,  but  neither  the 
body  nor  the  armor  which  had  been  buried  with  him  were  in  the 
tomb.  But  the  next  day  the  body  of  the  saint  and  all  the  armor 
was  as  before,  except  that  the  lance  was  stained  with  blood.  "  For 
on  the  day  of  battle,  when  the  wicked  emperor  was  at  the  head  of 
his  army,  an  unknown  warrior,  bareheaded,  and  of  a  pale  and 
ghastly  countenance,  was  seen  mounted  on  a  white  charger,  which 
he  spurred  forward ;  and,  brandishing  his  lance,  he  pierced  Julian 
through  the  body,  and  then  vanished  as  suddenly  as  he  had  appeared. 
And  Julian  being  carried  to  his  tent,  he  took  a  handful  of  the  blood 
which  flowed  from  his  wound,  and  flung  it  into  the  air,  exclaiming 
with  his  last  breath,  '  Thou  hast  conquered,  Galilean  !  Thou  hast 
conquered ! '  Then  the  demons  received  his  parting  spirit.  But 
Mercurius,  having  performed  the  behest  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  re- 
entered his  tomb,  and  laid  himself  down  to  sleep  till  the  Day  of 

Judgment.'* 

St.  Methodius.  See  St.  Cyril. 
St.  Michael  {Lat.  Sanctus  Michael 
Angelus ;  Fr,  Monseigneur  Saint 
Michel ;  Ital.  San  Michele,  Sammi- 
chele;  "Ay.  MtxaryA).  St.  Michael, 
whose  name  signifies  "  like  unto  God," 
or  Michael  the  Archangel,  is  regarded 
as  the  first  and  mightiest  of  all  created 
spirits.  He  it  was  whom  God  com- 
missioned to  expel  Satan  and  the  re- 
bellious angels  from  heaven.  His  office 
now  is  believed  to  be  twofold,  —  includ- 
ing that  of  patron  saint  of  the  Church 
on  earth,  and  Lord  of  the  souls  of  the 
dead  ;  deciding  their  merits,  present- 
ing the  good  to  God,  and  sending  the 
evil  and  wicked  away  to  torment.  It 
is  believed  to  have  been  St.  Michael 
who  appeared  to  Hagar  (Gen.  xxi.  17), 
to  Abraham  to  forbid  the  sacrifice  of 
Isaac  (Gen.  xxii.  11)  ;  who  brought  the  plagues  on  Egypt,  led  the 


(Cathedral  of  Cortona,  about 
7th  centur/.)   St.  Michael.  » 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


229 


Israelites  on  their  journey,  contended  witli  Satan  for  the  body  of 
Moses  (Jude  5),  put  blessings  instead  of  curses  in  Balaam^s  mouth 
(Num.  xxii.  35),  was  with  Joshua  at  Jericho  (Josh,  v,  13),  appeared 
to  Gideon  (Judges  vi.  11),  brought  the  pestilence  to  Israel  (2  Sam. 
xxiv.  16),  destroyed  the  Assyrian  army  (2  Chron.  xxxii.  21),  deliv- 
ered the  three  faithful  Jews  from  the  fiery  furnace  (Dan.  iii.  25), 
and  sent  Habakkuk  to  feed  Daniel  in  the  lion's  den  (Bel  and  the 
Dragon,  32).  The  legends  also  relate  that  St.  Michael  appeared  to 
the  Virgin  Mary  to  announce  to  her  the  time  of  her  death,  and 
that  he  received  her  soul  and  bore  it  to  Jesus.  And  again,  that 
during  the  sixth  century,  when  a  fearful  pestilence  was  raging  in 
Rome,  St.  Gregory  advised  that  a  procession  should  be  made,  which 
should  pass  through  the  streets  singing  the  service  which  since  then 
has  been  called  the  Great  Litanies.  This  was  done  for  three  days, 
and  on  the  last  day,  when  they  came  opposite  to  the  tomb  of  Ha- 
drian, Gregory  beheld  the  Archangel  Michael  hovering  over  the 
city ;  and  he  alighted  on  the  top  of  the  Mausoleum  and  sheathed 
his  sword,  which  was  dripping  with  blood.  Then  the  plague  was 
stayed,  and  the  Tomb  of  Hadrian  has  been  called  the  Castle  of 
Sant'  Angelo  from  that  day,  and  a  chapel  was  there  consecrated, 
the  name  of  which  was  Ecclesia  Sancti  Angeli  usque  ad  Coelos. 
St.  Michael  is  also  said  to  have  appeared  to  command  the  building 
of  two  churches.  The  first  was  on  the  eastern  coast  of  Italy,  and 
was  called  the  Church  of  Monte  Galgano.  The  legend  relates 
that  in  the  fifth  century  there  dwelt  in  Siponte  a  man  named  Gal- 
gano, who  was  very  rich  in  herds  which  were  pastured  on  the 
mountain.  At  one  time  a  bull  strayed  away  and  Galgano  took  his 
servants  and  went  to  find  him,  and  when  he  was  seen  he  was  on 
the  very  summit  of  the  mountain,  near  the  mouth  of  a  cave.  And 
Galgano  was  angry  with  the  bull  and  ordered  a  servant  to  kill  it ; 
but  the  arrow  came  back  to  the  bosom  of  him  who  sent  it,  and 
killed  him  instantly.  Then  Galgano  being  troubled,  sent  to  the 
bishop  to  know  what  he  should  do.  Then  the  bishop  fasted  and 
prayed  for  three  days,  at  the  end  of  which  time,  St.  Michael  ap- 
peared to  him  and  told  him  that  the  spot  where  the  bull  had  been 
was  especially  sacred  to  him,  and  he  could  not  permit  it  to  be  vio- 
lated by  blood,  and  he  commanded  that  a  church  should  be  built 
there  and  sanctified  to  his  service.  And  when  they  entered  the 
cave  they  found  a  stream  of  water  running  from  the  rock,  which 
cured  all  manner  of  diseases ;  and  three  altars  were  already  built 
there,  and  one  was  covered  with  a  rich  cloth  embroidered  in  crim- 
son and  gold.  So  the  fame  of  this  vision  spread  through  all  Eu- 
rope, and  the  church  which  was  there  built  became  a  resort  for  nu- 
merous pilgrims.  Again  in  the  reign  of  Childebert  II.  St.  Michael 
appeared  to  St.  Aubert,  Bishop  of  Avranches,  and  commanded  that 
a  church  should  be  built  on  the  summit  of  a  rock  in  the  Gulf  of 


230 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


Avranches,  in  Normandy.  This  rock  is  inaccessible  at  high  water, 
and  has  been  celebrated  as  an  impregnable  fortress.  The  bishop 
was  also  told  that  a  bull  Avould  be  found  concealed  there  and  a 
spring  of  pure  water,  and  the  church  should  be  made  to  cover  as 
much  ground  as  the  bull  had  trampled.  St.  Aubert  considered  this 
as  but  a  dream,  but  it  was  repeated  again  and  again,  and  the  third 
time  the  Archangel  pressed  his  thumb  upon  the  head  of  the  bishop 


(Martin  Schoen.)   St.  Michael. 

and  left  there  a  mark  which  never  disappeared.  After  this  a  small 
church  was  built  which  was  afterwards  replaced  by  a  magnificent 
abbey,  commenced  by  Richard,  Duke  of  Normandy,  and  completed 
by  William  the  Conqueror.  Mont- Saint-Michel  became  one  of 
the  most  celebrated  places  of  pilgrimage,  as  it  is  one  of  the  most 
picturesque  in  scenery,  but  the  legend  seems  only  a  poor  repetition 
of  that  of  Monte  Galgano.    From  this  time  St.  Michael  was  greatly 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


231 


venerated  in  France.  He  was  selected  as  patron  saint  of  the  coun- 
try and  of  the  Order  which  St.  Louis  instituted  in  his  honor.  An 
old  French  writer  also  makes  him  the  angel  of  good  counsel,  and 
says,  "  Le  vrai  office  de  Monseigneur  Saint  Michel  est  de  faire 
grandes  revelations  aux  hommes  en  bas,  en  leur  donnant  moult 
saints  conseils,"  and  particularly  ^'  sur  le  bon  nourissement  que  le 
pere  et  la  mere  donnent  A  leurs  enfans."  St.  Michael  is  always 
represented  as  young  and  beautiful.  As  patron  of  the  Church 
Militant  he  is  "  the  winged  saint,"  with  no  attribute  save  the  shield 
and  lance.  As  conqueror  of  Satan,  he  stands  in  armor,  with  his 
foot  upon  the  Evil  One,  who  is  half  human  or  like  a  dragon  in 
shape.  The  angel  is  about  to  chain  him  or  to  transfix  him  with  the 
lance.  But  the  treatment  of  this  subject  is  varied  in  many  ways, 
all  however  easily  recognized.  As  lord  of  souls  St.  Michael  is 
unarmed ;  he  holds  a  balance,  and  in  each  scale  a  little  naked  figure 
representing  the  souls  ;  the  heato  usually  joins  the  hands  as  in  thank- 
fulness, while  the  rejected  one  expresses  horror  in  look  and  attitude. 
Frequently  a  demon  is  seizing  the  falling  scale  with  a  Plutonic 
hook,  or  with  his  talons.  In  these  pictures  the  saint  is  rarely  with- 
out wings.  When  introduced  in  pictures  of  the  Madonna  and 
Child  he  presents  the  balance  to  Christ,  who  seems  to  welcome  the 
happy  soul.  Whether  with  or  without  the  balance,  he  is  always  the 
lord  of  souls  in  pictures  of  the  death,  assumption,  or  glorification 
of  the  Virgin  Mary,  for  tradition  teaches  that  he  received  her  spirit 
and  cared  for  it  until  it  was  reunited  to  her  body  and  ascended  to 
her  Son.  The  old  English  coin  called  an  angel  was  so  named  be- 
cause it  bore  the  image  of  this  archangel.  September  29.  Appar- 
ition of  St.  Michael,  May  8. 

St.  Miniato  or  Minias.  The  Florentine  legend  relates  that 
this  saint  was  an  Armenian  prince  who  belonged  to  the  Roman 
army  and  served  under  Decius.  When  that  emperor  was  encamped 
outside  the  city  of  Florence,  Miniato  was  denounced  as  a  Christian 
and  condemned  to  be  thrown  to  the  beasts  of  the  amphitheatre.  A 
panther  was  first  set  upon  him,  but  the  saint  was  delivered  from 
him  in  answer  to  his  prayers.  He  Avas  then  hanged,  put  in  boiling 
oil,  and  stoned  without  being  destroyed,  for  an  angel  descended  to 
comfort  him,  and  clothed  him  in  a  garment  of  light.  Finally  he 
was  beheaded.  It  is  said  that  this  occurred  in  254.  He  is  repre- 
sented dressed  as  a  prince  with  scarlet  robe  and  a  crown.  His 
attributes  are  the  palm,  the  lily,  and  javelins. 

St.  Modwena  was  an  Irish  virgin  who  had  power  to  heal  dis- 
eases. King  Egbert  had  a  son  who  was  epileptic,  and  no  physician 
of  his  court  could  heal  him.  Now  the  king  hearing  of  the  power  of 
Modwena  sent  his  son  over  seas  to  her  with  many  and  rich  gifts. 
The  virgin  refused  the  presents  but  she  healed  the  sick  boy.  Then 
the  king  sent  for  her  to  come  to  England.    He  was  surprised  at  her 


232 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


learning  and  piety,  and  he  built  for  her  a  convent  at  Polesworth,  in 
Warwickshire,  and  gave  his  daughter  Edith  into  her  care.  This 
Edith  of  Polesworth,  as  she  is  called,  also  became  famous  and  was 
canonized.  St.  Modwena  is  represented  in  the  black  habit  of  a 
Benedictine  nun  with  a  white  veil.  In  one  hand  a  crosier,  as  first 
abbess  of  her  monastery,  and  in  the  other  a  book.   July  5,  A.  d.  1387. 

St.  Monica  (Fr.  Sainte  Monique)  was  the  mother  of  St.  Augus- 
tine and  a  Christian,  while  his  father  was  a  heathen.  Monica  was 
sorely  troubled  at  the  dissipated  life  of  her  young  son  ;  she  wept 
and  prayed  for  him,  and  at  last  sought  the  advice  and  aid  of  the 
Bishop  of  Carthage.  He  dismissed  her  with  these  words  :  "  Go  in 
peace ;  the  son  of  so  many  tears  will  not  perish."  At  length  she 
had  the  joy  to  behold  the  baptism  of  St.  Augustine  by  the  Bishop 
of  Milan,  in  which  city  it  took  place.  She  is  venerated  as  the  first 
Augustine  nun.  She  is  represented  in  many  of  the  pictures  illus- 
trative of  the  life  of  St.  Augustine.  Her  dress  is  a  black  robe  with 
veil  or  coif  of  white  or  gray.  In  one  picture  in  Florence  she  is 
seated  on  a  throne  and  attended  by  twelve  nuns  or  saints.  This 
represents  her  as  the  foundress  of  the  Augustine  Order  of  nuns. 
May  4,  A.  D.  387. 

Moses,  The  Patriarch.  There  are  some  legends  concern- 
ing Moses,  so  entirely  outside  all  connection  with  the  Scripture  ac- 
count of  him  that  the  pictures  which  are  painted  to  represent  them 
are  quite  incomprehensible  without  the  traditions.  According  to 
these  the  daughter  of  Pharaoh  Valid  went  to  the  Nile,  in  order  to 
heal  some  disease  from  which  she  suffered,  by  the  use  of  its  waters. 
And  when  Thermutis  (for  so  she  was  called)  touched  the  babe  she 
found  she  was  immediately  well.  One  legend  relates  that  the  king 
had  seven  daughters,  and  all  of  them  lepers,  and  that  all  were  made 
whole  by  the  touch  of  the  infant,  and  that  therefore  the  king  al- 
lowed them  to  rear  the  child  in  the  palace.  But  art  represents  the 
first  version,  and  the  legend  goes  on  to  say  that  Thermutis  having 
no  children,  grew  so  fond  of  the  boy,  that  she  desired  that  he  should 
succeed  to  the  throne  of  Egypt.  Now  when  the  child  was  three 
years  old,  she  brought  him  to  the  king  who  caressed  him,  and  sport- 
ively placed  the  crown  on  his  head.  Moses  pulled  it  off  and  dashed 
it  to  the  ground,  it  is  said,  because  it  was  engraved  with  the  fig- 
ures of  idols,  which  even  then  Moses  abhorred ;  again,  it  is  said 
that  it  was  the  covering  of  the  king's  beard  that  he  pulled  ofi*  and 
threw  down.  But  be  it  as  it  may  those  who  stood  by  looked  upon 
it  as  a  bad  omen,  and  advised  the  king  that  he  should  be  slain ;  but 
others  said  he  was  too  young  to  know  right  from  wrong ;  while 
others  still  thought  there  was  something  very  uncommon  in  the 
babe.  Then  the  third  counselor  said,  let  a  ruby  ring  and  a  burn- 
ing coal  be  set  before  him ;  if  he  should  choose  the  ring  it  will 
show  that  he  knows  right  from  wrong  and  so  let  him  be  slain ;  but 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


233 


if  he  choose  the  coal  it  will  show  he  is  too  young  to  distinguish  the 
right,  and  so  let  him  live.  Then  this  was  done,  and  the  ring  was 
the  king's  signet  which  was  large  and  shining.  Then  at  first  the 
child  reached  out  for  the  ring,  but  the  angel  Gabriel,  who  took  the 
form  of  one  of  the  attendants,  turned  his  hand  aside,  so  that  he 
took  the  coal  and  put  it  into  his  mouth,  and  his  tongue  was  so 
burned  that  he  could  never  speak  distinctly  while  he  lived ;  but  his 
life  was  spared.    This  appears  in  art  from  the  fourteenth  century. 

St.  Nabor  and  St.  Felix.  Little  is  known  of  these  two  saints 
beyond  the  fact  that  they  were  Christians,  and  were  martyred  on 
account  of  their  faith  in  the  reign  of  Diocletian.  They  suffered  at 
Milan,  and  were  buried  by  a  Christian  named  Philip.  A  chapel 
was  built  over  their  remains,  and  it  was  in  this  church  that  St.  Am- 
brose prayed  when  he  had  the  vision  which  led  to  the  discovery  of 
the  relics  of  SS.  Gervasius  and  Protasius.  They  are  represented 
in  art  both  in  armor  and  in  secular  costume.    July  12. 

St.  Narcissus.    See  St.  Afra  of  Augsburg. 

St.  Natalia.    See  St.  Adrian. 

St.  Nazarius  (Ital.  San  Nazaro).    See  St.  Celsus. 

St.  Neot  was  the  preceptor  as  well  as  kinsman  of  King  Alfred. 
He  was  a  very  learned  monk  of  Glastonbury.  It  is  said  that  he 
journeyed  to  Rome  seven  times.  He  is  described  as  "  humble  to 
all,  affable  in  conversation,  wise  in  transacting  business,  venerable 
in  aspect,  severe  in  countenance,  moderate  even  in  his  walk,  up- 
right, calm,  temperate,  and  charitable."  He  dwelt  at  one  time  in  a 
wild  solitude  in  Cornwall.  He  died  in  878.  Two  towns  in  Eng- 
land bear  his  name.  His  attributes  are  the  pilgrim's  staff  and 
wallet.    October  28. 

St.  Nereus  {Ital  San  Nereo).    See  St.  Achilleus. 

St.  Nicaise  (^Lat.  Sanctus  Mcasius)  was  Bishop  of  Rheims,  and 
was  famed  for  the  success  of  his  preaching.  When  Rheims  was 
besieged  in  a.  d.  400  by  the  Vandals,  St.  Nicaise  went  forth  to  meet 
them  attended  by  his  clergy,  and  singing  hymns.  A  barbarian  sol- 
dier struck  off  the  upper  part  of  his  head ;  but  still  the  saint 
marched  on  and  continued  to  sing,  until  after  a  few  steps  he  fell 
dead.  He  is  represented  in  his  bishop's  robes,  carrying  a  part  of 
his  head  upon  which  is  the  mitre.    December  14. 

St.  Nicholas  of  Myra  {LaL  Sanctus  Nicholaus ;  Ital  San 
Mccolo  or  Nicola  di  Bari;  Ger.  Der  Heilige  Nicolaus  or  Niklas). 
Very  little  of  historical  fact  is  known  of  this  saint.  There  was  a 
bishop  of  this  name,  much  venerated  in  the  East  as  early  as  the 
sixth  century  ;  a  church  was  dedicated  to  him  in  Constantinople 
about  A.  D.  560 ;  in  the  Greek  Church  he  ranks  next  to  the  great 
Fathers.  He  began  to  be  reverenced  in  the  West  in  the  tenth  cen- 
tury, and  since  the  twelfth  has  been  one  of  the  most  popular  of  all 
saints  in  Italy,  Russia,  and  in  fact  all  Catholic  Europe.    But  what 


234 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


history  does  not  tell  is  more  than  supplied  by  tradition.  The  stories 
of  St.  Nicholas  are  numberless,  and  many  of  them  have  been  treated 
in  art.  According  to  these  legends  Nicholas  was  born  of  illustrious 
Christian  parents,  when  they  had  been  many  years  married  without 
having  children,  —  and  it  was  thought  that  this  son  was  given  by 
God  as  a  reward  for  the  alms  which  they  had  bestowed  upon  the 
Church  and  the  poor,  as  well  as  for  the  prayers  they  had  offered. 
Their  home  was  in  Panthera,  a  city  of  Lycia  in  Asia  Minor.  The 
very  day  of  his  birth  this  wonderful  child  arose  in  his  bath,  and 
joining  his  hands,  praised  God  that  he  had  brought  him  into  the 
world.  And  from  the  same  day  he  would  only  take  the  breast  once 
on  Wednesday  and  Friday;  thus  knowing  how  to  fast  from  the  time 
that  he  knew  hunger.  On  account  of  his  holy  dispositions  his 
parents  early  dedicated  him  to  the  service  of  the  Church.  While 
still  young  Nicholas  lost  both  father  and  mother ;  and  he  regarded 
himself  as  but  God's  steward  over  the  vast  wealth  of  which  he  was 
possessed.  A  certain  nobleman  of  Panthera  who  was  very  rich  lost 
all  his  property,  and  became  so  destitute  that  he  could  not  provide 
for  his  three  daughters,  and  he  feared  that  he  should  be  driven  to 
sacrifice  their  virtue  for  money  to  keep  them  from  starvation.  The 
daughters  were  filled  with  grief,  and  having  no  bread  knew  not 
where  to  look  for  aid.  Now  Nicholas  heard  of  this  and  resolved  to 
relieve  them.  So  he  took  a  good  sum  of  gold  and  tied  it  in  a  hand- 
kerchief, and  went  to  the  house  by  night  to  try  how  he  could  give  it 
to  them  and  not  be  himself  seen.  As  he  lino-ered  near  the  dwellinof 
the  moon  shone  out  brightly  and  showed  an  open  window.  Then 
Nicholas  threw  the  gold  inside  the  house  and  hastened  away.  The 
money  fell  at  the  feet  of  the  unhappy  father,  and  with  it  he  por- 
tioned his  eldest  daughter  and  she  was  married.  Again  Nicholas 
did  the  same,  and  the  second  daughter  received  this  sum.  But  now 
the  nobleman  resolved  to  watch,  in  order  to  know  who  was  thus  kind 
to  him ;  and  when  Nicholas  went  the  third  time  he  seized  him  by 
his  robe,  saying,  "  O  Nicholas  !  Servant  of  God  !  why  seek  to  hide 
thyself?  "  Then  Nicholas  made  him  promise  that  he  would  tell  no 
man.  And  this  was  but  one  of  the  many  charities  which  he  did  in 
Panthera.  At  length  he  determined  to  go  to  Palestine.  On  the 
voyage  a  sailor  fell  overboard  and  was  drowned,  but  St.  Nicholas 
restored  his  life ;  and  when  a  storm  arose,  and  they  were  about  to 
perish,  the  sailors  fell  at  his  feet  and  implored  him  to  save  them ; 
and  when  he  prayed  the  storm  ceased.  After  his  return  from 
Palestine  Nicholas  dwelt  in  the  city  of  Myra,  where  he  was  unknown, 
and  he  lived  in  great  humility.  At  length  the  Bishop  of  Myra  died, 
and  a  revelation  was  made  to  the  clergy  to  the  effect  that  the  first 
man  who  should  come  to  the  church  the  next  morning  was  the  man 
whom  God  had  chosen  for  their  bishop.  So  when  Nicholas  came 
early  to  the  church  to  pray,  as  was  his  custom,  the  clergy  led  him 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART.  235 

into  the  church  and  consecrated  him  bishop.  He  showed  himself 
well  worthy  of  his  new  dignity  in  every  way,  but  especially  by  his 


( Angelico  da  Fiesole.)    Charity  of  St.  Nicholas  of  Myi 


chanties,  which  were  beyond  account.  At  one  time  a  dreadful 
famine  prevailed  in  his  diocese,  and  when  he  heard  that  ships  were 
in  the  port  of  Myra  laden  with  wheat,  he  requested  the  captains 


236 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


that  they  should  give  him  a  hundred  hogsheads  of  wheat  out  of  each 
vessel.  But  they  dared  not  do  this,  for  the  grain  was  measured  at 
Alexandria  and  would  be  again  measured  at  Constantinople  where 
they  were  to  deliver  it.  Then  Nicholas  said  that  if  they  obeyed 
him  it  should  happen  by  the  grace  of  God  that  their  cargoes  should 
not  be  diminished.  So  they  complied,  and  when  they  were  arrived 
at  the  granary  of  the  emperor  they  found  as  much  wheat  in  their 
ships  as  when  they  left  Alexandria.  And  moreover  that  which 
they  gave  St.  Nicholas  was  miraculously  increased  ;  for  he  fed  the 
people  so  that  they  had  enough  to  eat,  and  still  suSicient  remained 
to  sow  their  fields  for  the  next  year.  During  this  time  of  hunger,  as 
St.  Nicholas  was  travelling  through  his  diocese  he  did  one  of  his 
greatest  miracles.  He  slept  in  the  house  of  a  man  who  was  a  most 
loyal  son  of  Satan,  for  in  this  time  of  want  he  was  accustomed  to 
steal  children,  to  kill  them  and  serve  them  up  as  meat  to  those  who 
stopped  at  his  inn.  Now  Nicholas  no  sooner  had  this  abominable 
dish  placed  before  him  than  he  knew  what  it  was  and  understood 
the  horrible  wickedness  of  the  man.  Then  he  accused  the  host,  and 
went  to  the  tub  where  the  children  were  salted  down  and  made  the 
sign  of  the  cross  over  it,  when  lo !  three  children  rose  up  whole  and 
well.  All  the  people  were  struck  dumb  at  this  miracle,  and  the 
three  children  were  restored  to  their  mother,  who  was  a  widow.  At 
one  time  Constantine  sent  certain  tribunes  to  put  down  a  rebellion 
in  Phrygia.  On  their  journey  they  stopped  at  Myra,  and  Nicholas 
invited  them  to  his  table ;  but  as  they  were  about  to  sit  down  he 
heard  that  the  prefect  of  the  city  was  preparing  to  execute  three 
innocent  men,  and  the  people  were  greatly  moved  thereat.  Then 
Nicholas  hastened  to  the  place  of  execution,  followed  by  his  guests. 
When  they  arrived  the  men  were  already  kneeling  with  their  eyes 
bound  and  the  executioner  was  ready  with  his  sword.  St.  Nicholas 
seized  his  sword  and  commanded  the  men  to  be  released.  The 
tribunes  looked  on  in  wonder,  but  no  one  dared  to  resist  the  good 
bishop.  Even  the  prefect  sought  his  pardon,  which  he  granted 
after  much  hesitation.  After  this  when  the  tribunes  went  on  their 
way  they  did  not  forget  St.  Nicholas,  for  it  happened  that  while 
they  were  absent  in  Phrygia  their  enemies  poisoned  the  mind  of 
Constantine  against  them,  so  that  when  they  were  returned  to  Con- 
stantinople he  accused  them  of  treason  and  threw  them  into  prison, 
ordering  their  execution  on  the  following  day.  Then  these  tribunes 
called  upon  St.  Nicholas  and  prayed  him  to  deliver  them.  That 
same  night  he  appeared  to  Constantine  in  a  dream  and  commanded 
him  to  release  those  whom  he  had  imprisoned,  and  threatened  him 
with  God's  wrath  if  he  obeyed  not.  Constantine  not  only  released 
them,  but  he  sent  them  to  Myra  to  thank  St.  Nicholas,  and  to  pre- 
sent him  with  a  copy  of  the  Gospels  which  was  written  in  letters  of 
gold  and  bound  in  covers  set  with  pearls  and  rare  jewels.  Also 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


237 


certain  sailors  who  were  in  danger  of  shipwreck  on  the  ^gean  Sea, 
called  upon  Jesus  to  deliver  them  for  the  sake  of  St.  Nicholas,  and 
immediately  the  saint  appeared  to  them  saying,  "  Lo,  here  I  am,  my 
sons  !  put  your  trust  in  God  whose  servant  I  am,  and  ye  shall  be 
saved."  And  the  sea  was  calm  and  he  took  them  into  a  safe  har- 
bor. Now  the  fame  of  these  miracles  so  went  abroad  through  the 
world,  that  since  that  time  those  who  are  in  peril  invoke  this  saint, 
and  find  aid  in  him.  And  so  his  life  was  spent  in  doing  all  manner 
of  good  works,  and  when  he  died  it  was  in  great  peace  and  joy ;  — 
and  he  was  buried  in  a  magnificent  church  in  Myra.  The  miracles 
attributed  to  St.  Nicholas  after  his  death  were  quite  as  marvelous 
as  those  he  did  while  yet  alive.  A  man  who  greatly  desired  to 
have  a  son  made  a  vow  that  if  this  wish  could  be  realized  the  first 
time  he  took  his  child  to  church  he  would  give  a  cup  of  gold  to  the 
altar  of  St.  Nicholas.  The  son  was  granted,  and  the  father  ordered 
the  cup  to  be  made ;  but  when  it  was  finished  it  was  so  beautiful 
that  he  decided  to  retain  it  for  his  own  use,  and  had  another  less 
valuable  made  for  St.  Nicholas.  At  length  he  went  on  the  journey 
necessary  to  accomplish  his  vow,  and  while  on  the  way  he  ordered 
the  little  child  to  bring  him  water  in  the  cup  which  he  had  taken 
for  himself.  In  obeying  his  father,  the  boy  fell  into  the  water  and 
was  drowned.  Then  the  father  repented  sorely  of  his  covetousness 
and  repaired  to  the  Church  of  St.  Nicholas  and  olTered  the  second 
cup ;  but  when  it  was  placed  upon  the  altar  it  fell  off  and  rolled  on 
the  ground,  and  this  it  did  the  second  and  third  time ;  and  while  all 
looked  on  amazed,  behold,  the  drowned  child  stood  on  the  steps  of 
the  altar  with  the  beautiful  cup  in  his  hand;  and  he  told  how  St. 
Nicholas  had  rescued  him  from  death  and  brought  him  there.  Then 
the  joyful  father  made  an  offering  of  both  cups,  and  returned  home 
full  of  gratitude  to  the  good  St.  Nicholas.  This  story  has  often  been 
told  in  prose  and  poetry  as  well  as  represented  in  art.  Again,  a 
Jew  of  Calabria,  having  heard  of  all  the  wonderful  deeds  of  St. 
Nicholas,  stole  his  image  from  the  church  and  set  it  up  in  his  house. 
Whenever  he  left  his  house  he  put  the  care  of  his  goods  in  the 
hands  of  the  saint,  and  threatened  that  if  anything  should  befall 
them  in  his  absence  he  would  chastise  the  saint  on  his  return.  One 
day  the  robbers  came  and  stole  his  treasures.  Then  the  Jew  beat 
the  image  and  cut  it  also.  That  night  St.  Nicholas  appeared  to  the 
robbers  all  wounded  and  bleeding,  and  commanded  them  to  restore 
what  they  had  stolen  ;  and  they  being  afraid  at  the  vision  did  as  he 
bade  them.  Then  the  Jew  was  converted  by  this  miracle  and  was 
baptized.  Another  rich  Christian  merchant  who  dwelt  in  a  pagan 
country  had  an  only  son  who  was  made  a  captive,  and  was  obliged 
to  serve  the  king  of  the  country  as  cupbearer.  One  day  as  he  filled 
the  king's  cup  he  remembered  that  it  was  St.  Nicholas'  day,  and  he 
wept.    Then  the  king  demanded  the  cause  of  his  grief,  and  when 


238 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


the  young  man  told  him  he  answered,  "  Great  as  is  thy  St.  Nicholas 
he  cannot  save  thee  from  my  hand !  "  And  instantly  the  palace 
was  shaken  by  a  whirlwind,  and  St.  Nicholas  appeared  and  caught 
the  youth  by  the  hair,  and  set  him  in  the  midst  of  his  own  family 
with  the  king's  cup  still  in  his  hand.  And  it  happened  that  the 
very  moment  when  he  came  there  was  that  in  which  his  father  was 
giving  food  to  the  poor  and  asking  their  prayers  for  his  captive  son. 
It  is  necessary  to  keep  these  traditions  in  mind  when  regarding  the 
pictures  of  St.  Nicholas,  for  in  two  different  pictures  there  appears  a 
boy  with  a  cup,  so  that  it  is  important  to  distinguish  them  by  the 
accessories.  Sometimes  it  is  a  daughter  who  is  rescued  from  cap- 
tivity. The  tomb  of  St.  Nicholas  was  a  famous  resort  for  pilgrims 
for  centuries.  In  807  the  church  was  attacked  by  Achmet,  com- 
mander of  the  fleet  of  Haroun  Al  E-aschid.  But  the  watchfulness 
of  the  monks  prevented  him  from  doing  any  harm,  and  putting  to 
sea,  he  and  his  whole  fleet  were  destroyed  in  punishment  for  their 
sacrilegious  attempt.  The  remains  of  the  saint  rested  in  Myra  until 
1084,  although  several  attempts  were  made  by  different  cities  and 
churches  to  possess  themselves  of  these  sacred  relics.  At  length  in 
the  year  mentioned  some  merchants  of  Bari  who  traded  on  the  coast 
of  Syria  resolved  to  obtain  these  remains  of  which  they  had  heard 
so  great  wonders.  At  this  time  Myra  was  desolated  by  the  Sara- 
cens, and  the  ruined  church  was  guarded  by  three  monks.  The 
remains  were  taken  without  difficulty  and  carried  safely  to  Bari, 
where  a  splendid  church  was  erected  for  their  resting-place.  The 
Venetians  however  claim  that  they  have  the  true  relics  of  St.  Nich- 
olas, brought  home  by  Venetian  merchants  in  1100.  But  the  claims 
of  Bari  are  generally  acknowledged,  and  the  saint  is  best  known  as 
St.  Nicholas  of  Bari.  In  Greek  pictures  he  is  dressed  like  a  Greek 
bishop,  with  no  mitre,  the  cross  in  j:>lace  of  the  crosier,  and  the 
persons  of  the  Trinity  embroidered  on  his  cope.  In  western  art  he 
has  the  bishop's  dress,  the  mitre,  the  cope  very  much  ornamented, 
the  crosier,  and  jeweled  gloves.  His  attributes  are  three  balls, 
which  are  on  the  book,  at  his  feet  or  in  his  lap.  They  are  said  to 
represent  the  three  purses  of  gold  which  he  threw  into  the  window  of 
the  poor  nobleman ;  or  three  loaves  of  bread,  emblematic  of  his  feed- 
ing the  poor  ;  or  again,  the  persons  of  the  Trinity.  The  first  inter- 
pretation is  the  most  general.  He  is  chief  patron  of  Russia.  Pa- 
tron of  Bari,  Venice,  and  Freiberg,  as  well  as  of  many  other  towns 
and  cities,  numbers  of  them  being  sea-port  places.  He  is  protector 
against  robbers  and  losses  by  violence.  He  is  patron  of  children 
and  school-boys  in  particular  ;  of  poor  maidens,  of  sailors,  travellers, 
and  merchants.    December  6,  A.  d.  326. 

St.  Nicholas  of  Tolentino,  was  born  in  the  little  town  of 
St.  Angelo,  near  Fermo,  in  1239.  His  parents  had  prayed  earnestly 
to  St.  Nicholas  for  a  son,  and  as  they  believed  that  this  son  was  given 


[LLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


239 


to  them  through  the  intercession  of  this  saint,  they  named  him  Nich- 
olas, and  dedicated  him  to 
the  service  of  the  Church. 
At  an  early  age  he  took  the 
habit  of  an  Augustine  friar, 
and  so  great  was  the  auster- 
ity of  his  life  that  it  has  been 
said,  that  "  he  did  not  live, 
but  languished  through 
life."  He  was  successful 
as  a  preacher,  and  his  mir- 
acles and  visions  are  num- 
berless. He  never  allowed 
himself  to  taste  animal 
food,  and  when  he  was 
very  weak  he  refused  a 
dish  of  doves  that  his 
brethren  brought  him,  and 
waved  his  hand  above  the 
dish,  when  the  doves  rose 
up  and  flew  away.  Tradi- 
tion teaches  that  at  the 
hour  of  his  birth  a  brill- 
iant star  shot  through  the 
heavens  from  Sant'  Angelo, 
where  he  was  born,  and 
rested  over  the  city  of 
Tolentino,  where  he  after- 
wards lived.  In  the  year 
1602,  a  plague  visited  the 
city  of  Cordova,  and  ac- 
cording to  the  legend  the 
governor  caused  the  image 
of  St.  Nicholas  of  Tolentino  to  be  carried  through  the  city  in 
solemn  procession,  on  the  day  which  was  observed  as  the  festival 
of  that  saint.  Father  G.  de  Uavas  bearing  a  crucifix,  met  the 
procession,  Avhen  the  figure  of  Christ  stooped  from  the  cross,  and 
embraced  that  of  St.  Nicholas,  and  immediately  the  plague  was 
stayed.  He  is  also  represented  in  art  as  restoring  a  child  to  life, 
and  doing  many  other  miracles.  He  is  painted  in  the  black  habit 
of  his  Order,  with  a  star  on  his  breast ;  he  often  bears  a  crucifix 
wreathed  with  lilies  typical  of  the  purity  and  austerity  of  his  life. 
September  10,  A.  d.  1309. 

St.  Nilus  of  Grotta  Ferrata  {Ital.  San  Nilo ;  Fr.  Saint  Nil 
le  jeune).  St.  Nilus  was  connected  with  many  interesting  events  in 
Roman  history  in  life,  and  since  his  death  is  associated  with  art  in 


St.  Nicholas  of  Tolentino. 


240 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


an  interesting  manner.  He  was  a  Greek,  born  near  Tarentum.  It 
was  not  until  after  the  loss  of  his  wife,  whom  he  loved  devotedly,  that 
he  embraced  a  religious  vocation.  He  took  the  habit  of  the  Greek 
Order  of  St.  Basil,  and  was  soon  made  the  superior  of  his  com- 
munity on  account  of  his  worth  and  learning.  The  chances  of  war 
drove  him  to  the  west  of  Italy,  and  he  fled  to  the  convent  of  Monte 
Cassino  at  Capua,  which  was  of  the  Benedictine  Order.  He  was 
received  with  great  kindness,  and  a  small  convent  assigned  to  him 
and  his  followers  by  the  abbot.    At  this  time  Capua  was  governed 


(Fresco  at  Grotta  Ferrata.)    Miracle  of  St.  Nilus. 

by  Aloare,  who  was  the  widow  of  the  prince  of  Capua,  and  reigned 
in  the  name  and  right  of  her  two  sons.  This  wicked  mother  had 
influenced  her  children  to  murder  their  cousin,  who  was  a  powerful 
and  worthy  nobleman.  Now  she  was  seized  with  the  agony  of 
remorse,  and  sought  St.  Mlus  to  confess  her  crime,  and  entreated 
absolution  at  his  hands.  He  refused  this,  except  upon  condition 
that  she  should  give  up  one  of  her  sons  to  the  family  of  the  mur- 
dered man,  to  be  dealt  with  as  they  saw  fit.  This  she  would  not 
consent  to  do.    Then  St.  Mlus  denounced  her  unforgiven,  and  told 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


;241 


her  that  wh^t  she  would  not  give,  Heaven  would  soon  exact  of  her. 
She  offered  him  large  sums  of  money,  and  begged  him  to  pray  for 
her  ;  but  he  threw  down  her  money  in  scorn  and  left  her.  Not 
long  after  this  the  youngest  son  killed  the  elder  in  a  church,  and  for 
this  double  crime  of  fratricide  and  sacrilege,  he  was  put  to  death  by 
command  of  Hugh  Capet.  Nilus  afterwards  went  to  Rome,  and 
lived  in  a  convent  on  the  Aventine,  where  large  numbers  of  sick 
people  visited  him,  and  he  did  many  and  great  miracles.  Among 
others,  his  cure  of  an  epileptic  boy  forms  a  subject  for  art.  Crescen- 
tius  was  consul  at  this  time,  and  John  XYI.,  who  was  a  Greek  like  St. 
Nilus,  was  Pope.  Then  Otho  HI.  came  to  Rome  and  made  a  new 
pope,  with  the  title  of  Gregory  Y.  He  put  out  the  eyes  of  Pope 
John,  and  laid  siege  to  the  Castle  of  St.  Angelo  to  which  Crescentius 
had  retired.  After  a  short  siege  the  castle  was  given  up  on  honor- 
able terms ;  but  not  heeding  these  Otho  ordered  that  Crescentius 
should  be  thrown  headlong  from  the  walls,  and  Stephanie,  his  wife, 
given  up  to  the  outrages  of  the  soldiers.  So  great  was  the  influence 
of  Nilus  in  Rome  at  this  time  that  the  emperor  and  the  new  pope 
endeavored  to  conciliate  him,  but  he  fearlessly  rebuked  them,  and 
declared  that  the  time  would  soon  come  when  they  should  both  seek 
mercy  without  finding  it.  He  then  left  Rome  and  went  first  to  a 
cell  near  Gaeta,  but  soon  after  to  a  cave  near  Frascati,  called  the 
Crypta  or  Grotta  Ferrata.  Pope  Gregory  died  a  miserable  death 
soon  after.  Otho  went  on  a  pilgrimage  to  Monte  Galgano.  When 
returning  he  visited  Nilus,  and  on  his  knees  besought  his  prayers. 
He  offered  to  erect  a  convent  and  endow  it  with  lands,  but  this 
Nilus  refused,  and  when  Otho  demanded  what  boon  he  could  grant 
him,  the  saint  stretched  out  his  hand,  and  replied,  "  I  ask  of  thee 
but  this  :  that  thou  would st  make  reparation  of  thy  crimes  before 
God,  and  save  thine  own  soul !  "  Soon  after  Otho  returned  to  Rome, 
he  was  obliged  to  fly  from  the  fury  of  the  people,  and  was  poisoned 
by  Stephanie,  the  widow  of  Crescentius.  When  St.  Nilus  died,  he 
desired  his  brethren  to  bury  him  immediately,  and  to  keep  secret  the 
place  where  they  laid  him.  This  they  did ;  but  his  disciple,  Barto- 
lomeo,  built  the  convent  which  Nilus  had  not  wished  to  do,  and 
received  the  gifts  he  had  refused.  The  magnificent  convent  and 
church  of  San  Basilio  of  Grotta  Ferrata,  was  built,  and  St.  Nilus  is 
regarded  as  its  founder.  Their  rule  is  that  of  St.  Basil,  and  their 
mass  is  recited  in  Greek,  but  they  wear  the  Benedictine  habit  as  a 
dependency  of  Monte  Cassino.  The  finest  Greek  library  in  all  Italy 
was  here,  and  is  now  in  the  Vatican,  and  Julius  H.  changed  the  con- 
vent to  a  fortress.  In  1610,  Domenichino  was  employed  by  Cardinal 
Odoardo  Farnese,  to  decorate  the  chapel  of  St.  Nilus,  which  he  did 
with  paintings  from  the  hfe  of  the  saint.    September  26,  A.  d.  1002. 

St.  Norbert  {Ital,  San  Norberto,  Fondatore  de'  Premostratesi ; 
Ger,  Stifter  der  Pramonstratenser-Orden).  This  saint  was  a  relative 
16 


242 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


of  Henry  IV.  He  was  born  at  Cologne,  and  early  dedicated  to  the 
Church.  But  he  led  a  dissolute  life  as  a  young  man.  At  last,  as  he 
was  one  day  riding,  he  was  overtaken  by  a  tempest,  and  a  ball  of 
fire  fell  from  heaven  and  exploding  at  the  feet  of  his  horse,  sank  into 
the  earth.  He  was  terrified  when  he  reflected  upon  what  his  state 
would  have  been  had  he  been  killed  by  it,  and  he  resolved  to  lead  a 
different  life  from  that  time.  He  bestowed  his  money  on  the  poor, 
and  determined  to  be  a  missionary.  He  only  reserved  a  mule  to 
carry  the  sacred  utensils  for  the  altar  and  the  vestments,  and  ten 
marks  of  silver.  He  dressed  himself  in  skins  with  a  cord  as  a  girdle, 
and  thus  he  went  forth  to  preach.  After  preaching  for  some  years 
there  were  many  who  desired  him  to  form  a  community,  and  lead 
them  in  a  life  of  austerity  and  severe  discipline.  He  prayed  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin  for  direction,  and  she  pointed  out  to  him  a  spot  called 
Pre-montre  (Pratum  Mon stratum),  in  the  valley  of  Coucy,  where  he 
should  establish  his  monastery.  The  Virgin  also  directed  what  habit 
they  should  wear ;  that  it  should  be  a  coarse  black  tunic,  with  a  white 
woolen  cloak,  in  imitation  of  angels  who  are  clothed  in  white ;  and 
a  four-cornered  cap  of  white  also,  but  in  form  like  the  beret  of  the 
Augustine  canons.  The  rule  was  that  of  Augustine  in  extreme 
severity.  St.  Norbert  was  made  Bishop  of  Magdeburg,  and  before 
his  death  his  Order  embraced  twelve  hundred  souls.  According  to 
the  legend,  one  day  when  he  had  consecrated  the  holy  wine,  and 
was  about  to  drink  it,  he  saw  a  large  and  poisonous  spider  in  the 
cup.  For  a  moment  he  hesitated  ;  but  he  reflected  that  he  could 
not  spill  the  consecrated  wine,  —  it  would  be  sacrilege ;  so  he  drank  it, 
and  remained  unharmed.  This  was  considered  as  a  miraculous 
recompense  of  his  faith,  and  is  often  seen  represented  in  art.  When 
at  Antwerp,  there  was  one  Tankelin  who  preached  most  heretical 
doctrines,  saying,  that  the  sacraments  were  unnecessary ;  the  priest- 
hood a  cheat ;  and  a  community  of  wives  as  well  as  goods  the  true 
doctrine.  St.  Norbert  confronted  this  heretic,  opposed  him,  and 
triumphed  over  him  with  great  effect.  He  wears  in  pictures  the 
dress  of  an  archbishop  with  mitre,  crosier,  and  cope.  Sometimes  he 
bears  the  sacramental  cup  over  which  is  a  spider.  He  also  has,  in 
some  instances,  a  demon  at  liis  feet,  representing  the  sin  and  error 
which  he  had  overcome.    May  6,  A.  d.  1134. 

St.  Omobuono  was  a  citizen  saint  of  Cremona.  He  was  a  mer- 
chant, and  married  to  a  good  and  prudent  wife,  so  though  a  saint 
he  was  not  monk  or  priest.  From  his  youth  all  his  affairs  prospered 
greatly,  and  his  wealth  was  only  equaled  by  his  charity.  He  not 
only  fed  and  clothed  but  he  comforted  the  poor,  and  tried  to  encour- 
age the  erring  ones  to  repent  and  lead  virtuous  lives.  His  wife 
often  feared  lest  his  generosity  should  make  his  children  poor,  but 
his  money  seemed  to  be  miraculously  increased,  and  it  is  related  that 
being  on  a  journey  with  his  family  he  gave  all  the  wine  and  bread 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


243 


he  had  provided  for  their  use  to  some  poor  pilgrims  whom  he  met ; 
but  when  he  took  his  wine-flasks  to  a  spring  and  filled  them  with 
water,  most  excellent  wine  was  poured  from  them,  and  his  bags  were 
filleji  with  bread  by  angels.  He  died  peacefully  while  kneeling  be- 
fore a  crucifix  in  the  Church  of  St.  Egidio,  just  as  the  choir  sang  the 
"  Gloria  in  Excelsis."  He  is  represented  clothed  in  a  loose  tunic  and 
a  cap,  both  of  which  are  trimmed  with  fur.  He  usually  distributes 
alms  to  the  poor  ;  wine-flasks  stand  near  him. 

St.  Onuphrius  (Onofrio,  Honofrio,  Onuphre)  was  a  hermit.  He 
went  out  from  Thebes  and  passed  sixty  years  in  the  desert,  during 
which  time  he  never  uttered  a  word  except  in  prayer,  nor  saw  a  hu- 
man face.  His  clothing  was  of  leaves  and  his  hair  and  beard  were 
uncut.  He  was  thus  seen  by  Paphnutius,  who  when  he  first  saw  him 
was  filled  with  fear,  believing  him  to  be  some  strange  wild  beast ; 
but  when  he  saw  that  it  was  a  man,  he  fell  at  his  feet  filled  with  rev- 
erence of  his  sanctity.  Then  Onuphrius  recounted  all  he  had  endured 
in  his  solitude  :  how  he  had  been  tempted ;  had  suflered  from  cold, 
heat,  hunger,  thirst,  and  sickness,  and  how  God  had  sent  angels  to 
comfort,  strengthen,  and  minister  unto  him.  Then  he  begged  Paph- 
nutius to  remain  with  him,  as  he  was  near  to  death.  It  was  not  long 
before  he  died,  and  Paphnutius  covered  his  remains  with  one  half  of 
his  cloak.  Then  he  had  a  revelation  that  he  should  go  into  the 
world  and  make  known  the  wonderful  life  and  merits  of  him  who  had 
died.  Many  convents  where  silence  and  solitude  are  practiced,  are 
placed  under  the  protection  of  this  saint.  Tasso  died  and  is  buried 
in  the  convent  of  St.  Onofrio  in  the  Trastevere  in  Rome.  He  is  rep- 
resented as  meagre  and  old ;  a  stick  in  his  hand  and  a  branch  with 
leaves  twisted  about  him.  In  many  old  pictures  he  looks  more  the 
beast  than  the  man.  Sometimes  money  is  lying  at  his  feet  to  signify 
his  scorn  of  it.    June  12. 

Ordeal.  The  trial  by  ordeal  was  used  for  the  decision  of  cases 
where  the  oath  of  the  accused  person  was  not  considered  worthy  of 
reliance.  It  was  called  the  great  purgation.  The  word  Ordeal  is 
from  two  Saxon  words.  Or,  great,  and  deal,  judgment.  There  were 
three  tests  used  in  these  trials.  1.  By  red-hot  iron.  This  the 
person  held  in  the  hand,  or  walked  on  barefooted.  2.  By  boiling 
water ;  the  person  dipped  the  hand  to  the  wrist  or  the  arm  to  the 
elbow  and  took  out  a  stone.  3.  By  cold  water  or  compelling  per- 
sons to  swim.  This  was  chiefly  used  for  detecting  witches,  and  was 
also  employed  not  only  by  judges,  but  at  length  by  the  people  and 
especially  by  foresters  to  discover  criminals. 

St.  Oswald.  This  king  being  moved  with  a  desire  to  live  a  truly 
Christian  life  asked  that  a  teacher  might  be  sent  to  instruct  him  and 
his  people.  The  first  man  who  was  sent  was  severe  in  disposition 
and  had  no  success  with  the  unlearned.  Then  Aidan  came,  and  by 
means  of  his  mildness  and  great  discretion  he  had  much  influence 


244 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


with  the  king  and  his  people.  Aidan  was  afterwards  prior  of  Mel- 
rose. According  to  the  legends,  it  happened  that  as  Oswald  sat  at 
dinner  one  Easter  day  with  Aidan  by  his  side,  he  was  told  that  there 
were  those  at  his  door  who  begged  for  bread.  Now  there  was  before 
him  a  silver  dish  filled  with  delicate  and  savory  meat.  Oswald  told 
the  servant  to  give  the  beggars  the  meat,  and  then  to  break  the 
dish  and  divide  it  among  them.  Then  Aidan  took  his  right  hand 
saying,  "  May  this  hand  never  wither ! "  And  his  prayer  was 
granted ;  for  at  his  death  his  heathen  enemies  cut  off  his  head  and 
hands  and  set  them  on  stakes  ;  but  his  head  was  taken  to  the 
church  of  Landisfarne  and  buried  in  St.  Cuthbert's  tomb,  between 
the  arms  of  that  saint :  his  right  hand  was  carried  to  Bamborough 
Castle  where  it  was  a  long  time  preserved,  free  from  decay.  At 
one  time  Oswald  was  driven  from  his  throne  by  Cadwallader.  At 
length  he  determined  to  regain  his  kingdom.  He  raised  an  army, 
and  when  in  sight  of  his  enemies  he  ordered  his  men  to  make  a  large 
wooden  cross,  and  helped  himself  to  place  it  in  the  ground.  Then 
he  cried  out,  "  Let  us  all  kneel  down  and  beseech  the  living  God  to 
defend  us  from  the  haughty  and  fierce  enemy,  for  He  knows  that  we 
have  undertaken  a  just  war,  for  the  safety  of  our  nation."  And 
when  they  fought  Oswald  was  victorious.  The  greatest  proof  of  his 
charity  of  heart  is  shown  in  the  fact  that  as  he  died  he  prayed  for 
those  who  killed  him.  "  May  God  have  mercy  on  their  souls,  as 
Oswald  said  when  he  fell,"  was  a  proverb  for  many  years  in  Eng- 
land. And  the  legend  tells  that  "  in  the  place  where  he  was  killed 
by  the  pagans,  fighting  for  his  country,  infirm  men  and  cattle  are 
healed  to  this  day ;  nor  is  it  to  be  wondered  at,  that  the  sick  should 
be  healed  in  the  place  where  he  died,  for  whilst  he  lived  he  never 
ceased  to  provide  for  the  poor  and  infirm,  and  to  bestow  alms  on 
them  and  assist  them."  His  remains  were  carried  to  Bardney  in 
Lincolnshire  by  Osthrida,  and  afterwards  to  St.  Oswald's  in  Glouces- 
tershire by  Elfleda,  the  daughter  of  King  Alfred.  He  is  dressed 
as  a  king,  in  his  pictures ;  wears  a  crown  and  carries  a  cross.  Au- 
gust 5,  A.  D.  642. 

St.  Ottilia  was  the  blind  daughter  of  the  Duke  of  Alsace.  Her 
father,  who  was  a  pagan,  commanded  that  on  account  of  her  infirmity 
she  should  be  left  out,  and  exposed  to  death.  Her  nurse  then  fled 
to  a  monastery  with  the  child.  Then  Erhard,  a  bishop  of  Bavaria, 
was  told  in  a  vision  that  he  should  go  to  a  certain  monastery  where 
he  would  find  a  little  girl  of  noble  birth  who  was  blind.  He  was 
commanded  to  baptize  her  and  call  her  name  Ottilia,  and  promised 
that  her  sight  should  be  given  her.  All  this  was  done  according 
to  the  vision.  Her  father  repented  of  his  wickedness  before  his 
death,  and  gave  her  all  his  wealth.  Then  Ottilia,  knowing  that 
for  his  cruelty  her  father  was  tormented  in  purgatory,  determined 
to  deliver  him  by  prayers  and  penance.    She  built  a  convent  at 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


245 


Holienburg,  of  which  she  was  abbess,  and  there  she  gathered  one 
hundred  and  thirty  nuns.  She 
is  ranked  as  a  martyr  on  ac- 
count of  her  extreme  auster- 
ities. She  is  represented  in  the 
black  Benedictine  habit.  Her 
attributes  are  the  palm  or  cro- 
sier, and  a  book  upon  which 
are  two  eyes.  She  is  patron 
saint  of  Alsace,  and  especially 
of  Strasbourg.  She  is  also 
protector  of  all  who  suffer  with 
diseases  of  the  eye.  Decem- 
ber 13.  A.  D.  720. 

St.  Pancras  {ltd.  San 
Pancrazio  ;  Fr.  St.  Pancrace). 
This  saint  when  only  fourteen 
years  old,  offered  himself  as 
a  martyr.  He  boldly  defended 
the  Christians  and  their  faith 
before  Diocletian,  and  was  be- 
headed. His  remains  were  ^^^^  Oerm^n  Missal.)  St.  Ottilia, 
buried  by  Christian  women.  His  church  at  Rome,  near  the  gate 
which  bears  his  name,  was  built  in  the  year  500.  French  kings  for- 
merly confirmed  their  treaties  in  his  name,  for  he  was  regarded  as 
the  avenger  of  false  swearing,  and  it  was  believed  that  all  who  swore 
falsely  in  his  name  were  immediately  and  visibly  punished.  May 
12,  A.  D.  304.  ^ 

St.  Pantaleon  of  Nieomedia  {Ital.  San  Pantaleone ;  Gr,  "ky, 
Hai'TaAeoji/)  was  born  (according  to  tradition)  at  Nicomedia 
in  Bithynia.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  personal  beauty  and 
elegant  manners,  on  account  of  which,  after  completing  the  study 
of  medicine,  he  became  the  favorite  physician  of  the  Emperor 
Galerius  Maximian.  The  father  of  Pantaleon  was  a  pagan  and  his 
mother  a  Christian  ;  but  at  the  heathen  court  the  son  forgot  all  the 
instructions  that  his  mother  had  carefully  given  him.  At  length  he 
heard  a  priest,  Hermolaus,  preach,  and  was  converted.  When  the 
persecution  broke  out  he  knew  he  could  not  conceal  himself,  and  he 
prepared  to  suffer  a  cruel  martyrdom.  He  went  about  to  the  sick 
and  needy,  and  well  earned  the  title  of  the  "  all  merciful,"  which  is 
the  Greek  signification  of  his  name.  When  accused  before  the  em- 
peror he  was  condemned  to  be  beheaded,  together  with  the  aged  and 
venerable  Hermolaus,  who  came  forth  from  his  retreat,  desiring  to 
suffer  with  Pantaleon.  The  latter  was  bound  to  an  olive-tree,  and  as 
soon  as  his  blood  flowed  to  the  roots  of  the  tree  it  burst  forth  with 
leaves  and  fruit.    He  is  especially  venerated  at  Venice.  There 


246 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


have  been  some  who  doubted  his  existence,  and  believed  his  name 
to  have  been  derived  from  the  war-cry  of  the  Venetians,  —  Pianta 
Leone  (Plant  the  Lion)  !  But  Justinian  erected  a  church  in  his 
honor  in  Constantinople,  and  he  was  celebrated  in  the  Greek  Church 
at  that  time,  when  Venice  would  have  been  more  likely  to  introduce 
his  worship  from  the  East  than  to  have  originated  it  in  any  other 
way.  Patron  of  physicians.  He  is  represented  as  young,  beard- 
less, and  handsome.  As  a  martyr  he  is  bound  to  an  olive-tree  with 
his  hands  nailed  to  it  above  his  head,  a  sword  at  his  feet.  Without 
observation  he  might  be  mistaken  for  St.  Sebastian.  When  he  is 
painted  as  patron  he  wears  the  physician's  robe  and  bears  the  olive 
or  palm,  or  both.    July  27.    Fourth  century. 

St.  Patrick  (Lat.  S.  Patricius)  was  the  son  of  Christian  par- 
ents. He  was  carried  a  captive  to  L-eland  when  a  boy,  and  tended 
the  herds  of  his  master.  He  was  greatly  moved  at  the  ignorance 
and  heathenism  of  the  people  about  him,  and  when  at  last  he  made 
his  escape  and  returned  to  his  home  he  had  visions  in  which  it  ap- 
peared, that  the  children  of  Ireland  not  yet  born,  stretched  forth 
their  hands  to  him  and  cried  for  salvation.  Patrick  resolved  to  be- 
come a  missionary  and  prepared  himself  for  his  labor.  He  received 
his  mission  from  Pope  Celestine  and  returned  to  Ireland.  He  la- 
bored there  forty  years.  He  gained  many  disciples,  and  preached 
with  the  greatest  success.  He  baptized  the  kings  of  Dublin  and 
Munster,  and  the  seven  sons  of  the  king  of  Connaught.  Having 
found  Ireland  in  a  state  of  profound  ignorance,  he  left  it  Christian- 
ized ;  with  schools  which  became  famous,  and  sent  forth  many 
learned  scholars.  The  familiar  story  of  the  expulsion  of  the  rep- 
tiles from  Ireland,  by  this  saint,  has  the  signification  of  many  other 
legends  and  allegories,  and  figures  the  triumph  of  good  over  evil. 
He  died  and  was  buried  at  Down  in  the  province  of  Ulster.  His 
resting-place  is  still  venerated  by  the  people,  and  his  remains  were 
preserved  many  years,  but  his  church  at  Down  was  destroyed  in  the 
reign  of  Henry  VIII.  and  such  relics  of  him  as  remained  were  scat- 
tered either  by  the  soldiers  of  Elizabeth  or  those  under  Cromwell. 
Wlien  represented  as  bishop,  he  wears  the  usual  dress  with  the  mitre, 
cope,  and  crosier,  while  a  neophyte  regards  him  with  reverence. 
As  the  Apostle  of  Ireland  he  should  wear  a  hooded  gown  and  a 
leathern  girdle.  The  staff,  wallet,  standard  with  the  cross,  and  the 
Gospel,  are  all  his  proper  attributes.  A  serpent  should  be  placed 
beneath  his  feet.    March  17,  a.  d.  464. 

St.  Paul  {Lat.  S.  Paulus ;  ltd,  and  Sp.  San  Paolo ;  Fr.  St.  Paul ; 
Gr,  "Ay.  HavAog).  St.  Paul  and  St.  Peter  occupy  the  first  place 
among  the  Apostles.  St.  Peter  more  especially  represented  the  con- 
verted Jews  and  St.  Paul  the  Gentiles  ;  together  they  represent  the 
Universal  Church.  There  are  few  legends  connected  with  St.  Paul, 
but  the  scenes  of  his  life  as  given  in  the  Gospel  have  furnished 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


24> 


St.  Paul  is  so  often 


nc\VA0C-5S^KV 


inexhaustible  subjects  for  the  illustrations  of  art. 
represented  with  St.  Peter  that  it  is 
necessary  to  be  able  to  distinguish  the 
one  from  the  other.  Augustine  and 
other  early  writers  allude  to  portraits 
of  St.  Paul  as  existing  in  their  time, 
and  it  is  supposed  that  the  tradition- 
ary picture  of  him  which  is  so  strict- 
ly followed,  had  its  origin  in  those 
portraits.  He  is  small  of  stature, 
with  high  forehead,  sparkling  eyes, 
and  aquiline  nose.  His  hair  and 
beard  are  brown,  and  the  latter 
long  and  flowing.  Later  artists 
have  varied  the  head  of  St.  Paul 
more  than  that  of  St.  Peter,  but 
the  most  ancient  pictures  are 
exact  in  these  particulars.  When 
the  two  apostles  are  together, 
their  proper  place  is  on  each  side 
of  the  Saviour,  or  of  the  Virgin 
enthroned.  Their  pictures  should  be 
placed  on  each  side  the  altar,  or  of 
the  arch  over  the  choir.  The  dress 
is  the  same  for  both :  a  blue  tunic 
and  white  mantle  in  Greek  pictures, 
a  blue  or  green  tunic  and  yellow 
mantle  in  later  works  of  art.  Paul 
bears  the  sword  in  a  double  sense, 
signifying  his  spiritual  warfare  and 
the  manner  of  his  death.  He  also 
has  a  book  or  scroll  and  sometimes 
twelve  rolls,  representing  his  epis- 
tles. When  he  leans  on  his  sword 
it  is  his  death  which  is  represented  ;  (Greek,  11th  century.)  St.  Paul, 
when  he  holds  it  aloft,  it  signifies  the  "  good  fight "  which  he 
fought.  If  two  swords  are  given  him,  both  the  manner  of  his 
death  and  that  of  his  life  are  signified.  The  events  in  the  life 
of  this  apostle  are  so  well  known  to  all,  that  they  are  easily 
recognized  in  art.  The  church  called  San  Paolo  delle  Tre  Fon- 
tane "  near  Rome,  is  built  over  three  fountains  which  are  said  to 
have  sprung  up  at  the  three  places  where  the  head  of  St.  Paul 
fell  and  bounded,  after  being  cut  off  by  the  executioner.  It  is 
said  that  the  fountains  vary  in  the  warmth  of  the  water  :  the  first, 
or  the  one  where  the  head  fell,  being  the  hottest ;  the  next,  or  that  of 
the  first  bound,  cooler ;  and  the  third  still  cooler ;  but  probably  time 


248 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


has  equalized  the  temperature,  for  I  could  not  distinguish  the  dif- 
ference. Formerly  a  magnificent  monastery  existed  here,  but  three 
old  churches  and  ruins,  with  a  few  sickly  looking  monks,  are  the 
only  remains  of  its  former  splendor.  The  body  of  St.  Paul  was  in- 
terred where  the  Church  of  "  San  Paolo-fuori-le-mura  "  stands,  be- 
tween the  Ostian  Gate  and  the  Aqua  Salvias ;  but  traditions  relate 
that  they  were  removed  with  those  of  St.  Peter  to  the  Catacombs, 
and  laid  in  the  same  tomb,  during  the  reign  of  Heliogabalus.  Two 
hundred  years  later  the  Oriental  Christians  endeavored  to  possess 
themselves  of  them,  but  the  Roman  Christians  contended  for  them 
with  success,  and  they  removed  them  to  the  Church  of  the  Vatican, 
and  placed  them  together  in  a  magnificent  shrine.  SS.  Peter  and 
Paul,  June  29.  Conversion  of  St.  Paul,  June  30.  See  also  St. 
Peter. 

St.  Paul.    Hermit.    See  St.  Anthony. 

Sts.  Paul  and  John.    See  Sts.  John  and  Paul,  brothers. 

St.  Paula  (^Gr.  'Ay.  ITauAa)  was  a  noble  Roman  matron,  a  pupil 
and  disciple  of  St.  Jerome.  Though  descended  from  the  Scipios  and 
the  Gracchi,  and  accustomed  to  luxurious  self-indulgence,  she  preferred 
to  follow  her  saintly  teacher  to  Bethlehem  and  devote  herself  to  a 
religious  life.  The  church  dedicated  to  St.  Jerome  at  Rome,  is  said 
to  be  upon  the  spot  where  the  house  of  Paula  stood,  in  which  she 
entertained  that  holy  man  during  his  stay  in  Rome,  a.  d.  382.  She 
studied  Hebrew,  in  order  to  understand  the  Scriptures  better.  She 
built  a  monastery,  hospital,  and  three  nunneries  at  Bethlehem.  Her 
daughter  St.  Eustochium  was  with  her.  The  rule  for  these  convents 
was  very  strict,  and  her  own  austerities  so  severe  that  she  was  repri- 
manded for  them  by  St.  Jerome.  Her  granddaughter  Paula  was 
sent  to  her  at  Bethlehem  to  be  educated,  and  she  succeeded  her  as 
superior  of  the  monastery.  She  died  making  the  sign  of  the  cross 
on  her  lips,  and  was  buried  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Manger,  where 
her  empty  tomb  is  now  seen  near  that  of  St.  Jerome.  Her  relics 
are  said  to  be  at  Sens.    January  26,  A.  d.  404. 

St.  Paulinus  of  York  was  sent  from  Rome  to  England  in  601, 
to  assist  St.  Augustine  in  his  mission.  He  became  the  first  Primate 
of  York,  where  he  founded  the  Cathedral.  Wordsworth  gives  a 
word-picture  of  him  thus :  — 

 "  of  shoulders  curved,  and  stature  tall, 

Black  hair  and  vivid  eye,  and  meagre  cheek. 
His  prominent  feature  like  an  eagle's  beak." 

By  the  preaching  of  Paulinus,  Coifi,  the  Druid  and  high-priest  of 
Thor,  was  converted.  King  Edwin  had  renounced  idolatry,  and 
given  Paulinus  license  to  preach.  Wlien  the  king  asked  Coifi  who 
would  destroy  the  idols,  the  priest  answered,  "  I !  for  who  can  more 
properly  than  myself  destroy  those  things  which  I  worshipped 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


249 


through  ignorance  !  "  It  was  not  lawful  for  the  high-priest  to  ride, 
except  on  a  mare,  or  to  bear  arms,  but  now  he  asked  Edwin  to  give 
him  a  horse  and  sword.  This  was  done,  and  he  rode  to  the  temple 
and  thrust  his  spear  in,  and  commanded  the  temple  and  idols  to 
be  burned.  Paulinus  is  often  seen  in  pictures  of  St.  Augustine. 
October  10,  A.  d.  644. 

St.  Perpetua  was  one  of  the  martyrs  who  suffered  at  Carthage 
during  the  persecution  of  Severus.  This  saint  manifested  miracu- 
lous courage  in  devoting  herself  to  her  fate.  She  was  tossed  by  a 
wild  cow  in  the  amphitheatre,  but  was  not  quite  killed,  and  after 
great  tortures  was  put  to  death  in  the  spoliarium,  or  place  where  the 
wounded  were  dispatched  by  the  gladiators.  She  had  a  vision  of  a 
narrow  ladder  which  reached  to  heaven,  beset  with  spikes,  and  a 
dragon  lay  at  the  bottom  on  whose  head  she  must  tread  in  order  to 
mount  the  first  step.  One  scene  from  her  life  represented  in  mod- 
ern art,  is  her  farewell  to  her  infant  child.  There  are  many  inci- 
dents in  her  story  which  would  be  most  interesting  subjects  for  the 
artist,  that  as  yet  remain  without  representation.  In  her  pictures  a 
cow  stands  by  her  side  or  near  her.    March  7,  A.  d.  203. 

St.  Peter  (Lat.  Sanctus  Petrus  ;  Ital.  San  Pietro  or  Piero  ;  Fr. 
Saint  Pierre;  Sp.  San  Pedro.   Signification:  A  rock).    St.  Peter 


(Sarcophagus,  3d  century.)    Repentance  of  St.  Peter. 


and  St.  Paul  are  so  associated  in  history  that  it  is  quite  impos- 
sible to  separate  them  in  our  minds,  or  entirely  to  do  so  in  de- 
bcriptions  of  them.    And  in  works  of  art  they  are  constantly  asso- 


250 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


ciated.  St.  Peter  is  a  strong  man,  old,  with  gray  hair,  and  curling, 
silvery  beard,  a  broad  forehead,  and  an  expression  of  courage  and 
confidence.  Sometimes  he  is  bald ;  and  there  is  a  legend  that  the 
Gentiles  shaved  his  head  in  mockery,  and  from  this  originated  the 
tonsure  of  the  priests.  His  dress  is  a  blue  tunic  and  white  mantle 
in  the  oldest  pictures  and  mosaics,  but  in  later  art  it  is  a  blue  or 
green  tunic  with  a  yellow  mantle.  In  the  earliest  pictures  Peter 
only  bears  a  scroll  or  book,  and  there  is  nothing  to  distinguish  him 
from  Paul  except  the  difference  in  the  head  and  features.  The  keys 
are  not  assigned  as  his  attribute  until  the  eighth  century.  He  has 
usually  two  keys,  one  golden  and  one  silver ;  they  are  interpreted  as 
signifying  his  power  to  bind  and  to  loose ;  or  again,  one  as  the  key 
of  heaven  the  other  of  hell,  when  the  first  is  of  gold  and  the  second 
iron,  and  sometimes  a  third  is  added  to  express  dominion  over  earth 
also.  When  the  traditional  differences  in  the  two  men  are  well  rep- 
resented, the  contrast  is  marked  and  impressive.  In  some  early 
representations,  from  the  middle  to  the  end  of  the  fourth  century, 
Peter  bears  a  cross  and  stands  on  the  left  of  Christ,  with  Paul  on 
the  right.  This  cross  is  said  to  be  the  emblem  of  the  death  he 
should  die.  When  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  occur  together  in  strictly 
devotional  pictures,  they  are  represented  as  the  founders  of  the  Uni- 
versal Church.  Since  the  Protestant  Church  has  separated  from  the 
Roman  Church,  a  distinction  is  made  between  these  saints.  The 
Roman  Church  regards  St.  Peter  as  the  saint  of  saints ;  of  all  most 
holy :  while  among  Protestants  St.  Paul  has  come  to  be  greatly 
venerated,  and  his  clear,  subtle,  philosophical,  reasoning  religion  can 
never  be  too  much  exalted  by  them.  When  St.  Peter  is  represented 
in  company  with  all  the  apostles  he  frequently  has  a  fish,  which  is 
the  symbol  of  his  early  vocation  ;  but  if  the  fish  is  given  him  when 
alone,  it  is  symbolical  of  Christianity  and  the  Rite  of  Baptism.  When 
represented  as  the  Head  of  the  Roman  Church  he  is  seated  on  a 
throne ;  one  hand  raised  in  benediction,  while  in  the  other  he  holds 
keys,  and  often  a  book  or  scroll  inscribed,  "  Thou  art  Peter,  and  on 
this  rock  have  I  built  my  Church."  Sometimes  he  wears  the  papal 
tiara.  Wlien  another  apostle  without  attributes  is  seen  with  him  it 
is  Mark,  who  was  his  interpreter  and  amanuensis  at  Rome  ;  and  a 
tradition  relates  that  St.  Mark's,  Gospel  was  written  after  the  dic- 
tation of  Peter.  The  historical  pictures,  or  those  which  represent 
scenes  in  the  life  of  Peter,  are  of  great  interest  and  almost  number- 
less, but  all  easily  recognized.  Of  the  legendary  pictures  those 
connected  with  Simon  Magus  are  important.  The  story  is,  that 
Simon  was  a  magician  of  great  fame  among  the  Jews.  He  did 
wonderful  things  at  Jerusalem,  and  greatly  astonished  the  people ; 
but  the  miracles  of  Peter  far  excelled  the  inventions  of  the  sorcerer. 
Then  Simon  endeavored  to  buy  from  the  apostles  the  secret  by  which 
these  miracles  were  done.    These  ofiers  much  enraged  Peter,  who 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


251 


rejected  them  with  great  indignation.  Simon  then  threv/  away  his 
wand,  and  casting  his  books  into  the  Dead  Sea  he  fled  to  Kome, 
where  he  became  a  favorite  of  Claudius,  and  again  of  Nero.  Peter 
also  came  to  Rome  and  afterwards  Paul.  Simon  asserted  that  he 
was  a  god  and  could  raise  the  dead.  Peter  and  Paul  challenged 
him  to  prove  his  skill  before  the  emperor.  His  arts  failed,  and  not 
only  then,  but  many  times  he  was  vanquished  by  the  apostles.  At 
last  Simon  attempted  to  fly  to  heaven  in  the  sight  of  the  emperor 
and  all  Rome.  He  was  crowned  with  laurel  and  supported  by  de- 
mons, and  thus  precipitated  himself  from  a  tower.  He  appeared  to 
float  in  the  air  for  a  time,  but  Peter  knelt  and  commanded  the  de- 
mons to  let  go  their  hold  of  him,  when  he  fell  to  the  earth  and  was 
dashed  in  pieces.  This  legend  is  not  without  some  foundation  in 
history,  as  there  existed  a  Samaritan  magician  by  that  name  who 
assumed  to  be  God.  Irenaeus  calls  him,  the  father  of  all  heretics. 
He  carried  about  with  him  a  beautiful  woman  called  Helena,  whom 
he  said  was  the  first  conception  of  his  divine  mind.  He  presented 
her  as  being  the  resuscitation  of  Helen  of  Troy.  In  the  Church 
of  St.  Francesca  Romana  at  Rome,  there  are  two  stones  let  into  the 
wall,  bearing  a  double  depression,  made  it  is  said  by  St.  Peter's 
kneeling  on  them  when  Simon  Magus  was  attempting  his  heavenly 
flight.  Another  legend  relates  that  afler  the  burning  of  Rome  Nero 
accused  the  Christians  of  having  fired  the  city.  This  was  the  origin 
of  the  first  persecution.  The  Christians  besought  St.  Peter  to  save 
himself  by  flight,  which  he  at  length  consented  to  do.  He  departed 
by  the  Appian  Way,  and  when  about  two  miles  from  the  city  he  met 
a  vision  of  Our  Saviour.  Peter  exclaimed,  "  Lord,  whither  goest 
thou  ?  "  Looking  sadly  upon  him  Christ  replied,  "  I  go  to  Rome  to 
be  crucified  a  second  time."  Peter  understood  this  as  a  warning 
that  he  ought  to  return  to  Rome,  which  he  did.  This  is  called  the 
"  Domine,  quo  vadis  ?  "  when  illustrated.  In  the  little  church  erected 
on  the  spot  sanctified  by  this  miracle,  a  slab  is  shown  containing 
footprints,  said  to  be  those  made  by  the  feet  of  Christ,  as  he  talked 
with  Peter.  After  Peter's  return  to  Rome,  he  preached  and  labored 
as  usual  until  he  was  seized  with  St.  Paul  and  thrown  into  the  Mam- 
ertine  Prison.  Here  the  centurions  who  guarded  them.  Processus 
and  Martinian,  and  many  prisoners,  were  converted.  When  St.  Peter 
wished  to  baptize  them  and  there  was  no  water,  he  prayed  to  God 
and  a  fountain  sprung  up  from  the  stone  floor,  which  may  still  be 
seen.  It  was  not  long  till  the  two  apostles  were  martyrized.  The 
traditions  disagree  in  regard  to  the  place  where  St.  Peter  suffered. 
According  to  one,  he  was  crucified  with  his  head  downward  in  the 
court-yard  of  a  military  station  on  the  summit  of  Mons  Janicula, 
where  the  Church  of  San  Pietro  in  Montorio  now  stands ;  but  ac- 
cording to  another,  his  crucifixion  took  place  in  the  Circus  of  Calig- 
ula, at  the  foot  of  the  Vatican.     The  legends  make  St.  Peter  the 


252 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


keeper  of  the  entrance  to  Paradise  and  give  him  power  to  grant  or 
refuse  admission.  The  Church  of  San  Pietro  in  Vincoli  at  E-ome, 
was  built  by  Eudoxia,  wife  of  Valentinian  III.,  to  preserve  the  chains 
with  which  St.  Peter  was  bound  at  Jerusalem.  The  chains  are  pre- 
served in  a  bronze  tabernacle  in  the  sacristy,  and  are  shown  to  the 
people  on  the  festival  of  St.  Peter  in  Yinculis  on  the  1st  of  August. 
Here  is  the  picture  of  the  deliverance  of  St.  Peter  by  Domenichino. 
St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  June  29. 


St.  Peter  of  Alcantara. 

St.  Peter  of  Alcantara  was  not  canonized  until  1669.  Ac- 
cording to  the  legend  he  walked  on  the  sea  by  faith.  In  a  picture 
in  the  Munich  Gallery,  he  not  only  walks  himself,  but  a  lay  brother 
goes  with  him,  whom  Peter  seems  to  encourage  by  pointing  to 
heaven.    October  19,  a.  d.  1562. 

St-  Peter  Exoreista  and  Marcellinus  {ltd.  SS.  Pietro  e 
Marcellino).  These  saints  are  always  represented  together.  Ac- 
cording to  the  legend  they  were  imprisoned  during  the  last  persecu- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


253 


don  of  Diocletian.  Their  jailer,  Artemius,  had  a  daughter,  Paulina, 
who  was  sick.  Peter  promised  to  restore  her  to  health  if  Artemius 
would  believe  in  God.  Then  Artemius  ridiculed  him,  saying,  "  If  I  put 
thee  into  the  deepest  dungeon,  and  load  thee  with  heavier  chains,  will 
thy  God  then  deliver  thee  ?  "  Then  Peter  told  him  that  it  mattered 
little  to  God  whether  he  believed  or  not,  but  that  Christ  might  be 
glorified  he  desired  that  it  should  be  done.  And  it  was  so  ;  and  in 
the  night  Peter  and  Marcellinus,  dressed  in  shining  white  garments, 
came  to  Artemius  in  his  own  chamber.  Then  he  believed,  and  was 
baptized  with  all  his  family  and  three  hundred  others.  When  they 
were  to  die  it  was  ordered  that  the  executioner  should  take  them  to 
a  forest  three  miles  from  Rome,  in  order  that  the  Christians  should 
not  know  of  their  burial  place.  So  when  they  were  come  to  a  soli- 
tary place  and  the  executioner  pointed  it  out  as  the  spot  where  they 
were  to  die,  they  themselves  cleared  a  space  and  dug  their  grave, 
and  died  encouraging  each  other.  They  are  represented  in  priestly 
habits  bearing  palms.    June  2.    About  304. 

St.  Peter  Martyr.  St.  Peter  the  Dominican  (Ital.  San  Pietro 
(or  Pier)  Martire  ;  Fr.  St.  Pierre  le  Dominicain,  Martyr).  This 
saint  is  esteemed  next  to  St.  Dominick  by  his  Order.  He  was  born 
at  Yerona  about  1205.  His  parents  were  of  the  heretical  sect  called 
Cathari,  but  Peter  went 
to  a  Catholic  school. 
He  was  beaten  at  home 
for  reciting  the  creed. 
St.  Dominick  found  him 
a  zealous  disciple,  when 
at  Verona,  and  he  per- 
suaded him  to  unite  with 
his  Order  at  the  early 
age  of  fifteen.  He  be- 
came a  most  intolerant 
man,  and  a  successful 
preacher.  He  greatly 
delighted  in  the  perse- 
cution of  the  Cathari. 
He  was  made  Inquisitor 
General  under  Pope  Ho- 
norius  III.  Two  Vene- 
tian noblemen  whom  he 
had  accused,  and  whose 
property  was  confiscated, 
resolved  to  be  revenged 
on  him.  They  hired  as- 
sassins who  watched  that 
they  might  kill  him  in  a  forest  where  they  knew  he  would  pass  un- 


(Fra   Bartolomeo. ) 
.Jerome  Savonarola  as  St.  Peter  Martyr. 


254 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


accompanied,  save  by  a  single  monk.  When  he  appeared  one  of 
the  murderers  struck  him  down  with  an  axe.  They  then  pursued 
and  killed  his  attendant.  When  they  returned  to  St.  Peter  he 
was  reciting  the  Apostles'  Creed,  or  as  others  say,  was  writing  it  on 
the  ground  with  his  blood,  when  the  assassins  completed  their  cruel 
work.  Fra  Bartolomeo  painted  the  head  of  his  beloved  Jerome 
Savonarola  as  St.  Peter  Martyr.  He  is  represented  in  the  habit  of 
his  Order,  and  bears  the  crucifix  and  palm.  His  more  peculiar 
attribute  is  either  the  axe  stuck  in  his  head  or  a  gash  from  which 
the  blood  trickles.    April  28,  A.  d.  1252. 


(Claude  de  Mellan.)  St.  Peter  Nolasco. 

St.  Peter  Nolasco  {Sp.  San  Pedro  Nolasco)  was  a  convert  of 
St.  John  de  Matha.  When  young  he  enlisted  in  the  crusade  against 
the  Albio-enses.  He  was  the  son  of  a  noble  of  Languedoc,  and  became 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


255 


the  tutor  of  the  young  king  James  of  Aragon,  or  Don  Jay  me  el  Con- 
quistador. But  being  much  moved  at  the  consideration  of  the  suffer- 
ings of  captives  he  founded  a  new  Order  called,  "  The  Order  of  Our 
Lady  of  Mercy"  (Nuestra  Senora  de  la  Merced).  At  first  the 
Order  was  military,  consisting  of  knights  and  gentlemen,  and  the 
king  placed  himself  at  their  head  and  gave  them  his  arms  as  a  device 
or  badge.  The  Order  was  very  popular,  and  soon  extended  itself  on 
all  sides.  Peter  Nolasco  was  the  Superior,  and  spent  his  life  in  ex- 
peditions to  the  provinces  under  the  Moors,  from  which  he  brought 
back  hundreds  of  redeemed  captives.  In  time  the  Order  changed 
its  character  from  that  of  a  military  to  that  of  a  religious  institution. 
According  to  tradition,  when  Peter  was  old,  he  was  taken  from 
his  cell  by  angels,  and  borne  to  and  from  the  altar  where  he  re- 
ceived the  Holy  Eucharist.  He  is  represented  as  old ;  with  a  white 
habit  and  the  shield  of  King  James  on  his  breast.  January  13,  A.  B. 
1258. 

St.  Peter  Regalato.  This  saint  appears  in  the  later  Italian 
and  Spanish  pictures  of  the  Franciscans,  to  which  Order  he  be- 
longed. He  was  especially  distinguished  for  his  "  sublime  gift  of 
prayer."    March  30,  A.  d.  1456. 

St.  Petronilla  (Fr.  Sainte  Pernelle)  was  the  daughter  of  St. 
Peter.  When  at  Rome  with  him,  she  was  deprived  of  the  use  of  her 
limbs  by  sickness.  One  day  when  some  of  his  disciples  sat  at  din- 
ner with  the  Apostle,  they  asked  why  it  was  that  when  he  healed 
others  his  own  child  remained  helpless.  Peter  replied,  that  it  was 
good  for  her  to  be  ill,  but  that  his  power  should  be  shown,  he  com- 
manded her  to  rise  and  serve  them.  This  she  did,  and  when  the 
dinner  was  over  laid  down  helpless  as  before.  Years  after,  when  she 
had  become  perfected  by  suffering,  she  was  made  well  in  answer  to 
her  earnest  prayers.  Now  Petronilla  was  very  beautiful,  and  a  young 
noble,  Valerius  Flaccus,  desired  to  marry  her.  She  was  afraid  to 
refuse  him,  and  promised  that  if  he  returned  in  three  days,  he  should 
then  carry  her  home.  She  then  earnestly  prayed  to  be  delivered 
from  this  marriage,  and  when  the  lover  came  with  his  friends  to  cele- 
brate the  marriage,  he  found  her  dead.  Flaccus  lamented  sorely. 
The  attendant  nobles  bore  her  to  her  grave,  in  which  they  placed 
her  crowned  with  roses.    May  31. 

St.  Petronius  was  Bishop  of  Bologna,  and  distinguished  himself 
by  banishing  the  Arians  from  that  city.  He  was  a  Roman  of  an 
illustrious  family.  His  pictures  are  confined  to  Bologna  ;  and  there 
is  in  that  city  a  beautiful  church  dedicated  in  his  name.  He  is 
represented  in  episcopal  robes,  with  mitre  and  crosier.  He  has  a 
thick  black  beard  in  an  ancient  representation,  but  generally  is  with- 
out it.  His  attribute  is  a  model  of  Bologna,  which  he  holds  in  his 
hand.    October  4,  a.  d.  430. 

St.  Philip  (Jtal  San  Filippo  Apostolo;  Fr,  Saint  Philippe).  St. 


256 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


Philip  was  born  at  Bethsaida.  Beyond  the  fact  that  he  was  the  first 
called  to  follow  the  Saviour,  little  is  told  of  him  in  the  Gospel.  After 
the  ascension  of  Christ  he  preached  in  Scythia  twenty  years.  Then 
going  to  Hieropolis  in  Phrygia,  he  found  the  people  worshipping  a 
huge  serpent  or  dragon,  whom  they  thought  to  be  a  personification 
of  Mars.  Then  Philip  took  pity  on  their  ignorance.  He  held  up 
the  cross  and  commanded  the  serpent  to  disappear.  Immediately  u 
glided  from  beneath  the  altar,  and  as  it  moved  it  sent  forth  so  dread- 
ful an  odor  that  many  died,  and  among  them  the  son  of  the  king ; 
but  Philip  restored  him  to  life.  Then  the  priests  of  the  serpent 
were  so  wroth  with  him  that  they  crucified  him,  and  when  he  was 
fastened  to  the  cross  they  stoned  him.  The  Scriptures  state  that 
Philip  had  four  daughters  who  did  prophesy  (Acts  xxi.  9.).  St. 
Mariamne,  his  sister,  and  his  daughter  St.  Hermione,  are  martyrs  in 
the  Greek  Calendar.  St.  Philip  is  represented  as  a  man  of  middle 
age,  scanty  beard,  and  benevolent  face.  His  attribute  is  a  cross 
which  varies  in  form,  —  sometimes  a  small  cross  in  his  hand  ;  again, 
a  high  cross  in  the  form  of  a  T,  or  a  stafi"  with  a  small  cross  at  the 
top.  It  has  three  significations  :  it  may  represent  the  power  of  the 
cross  which  he  held  before  the  dragon ;  or  his  martyrdom ;  or  his 
mission  as  preacher  of  the  cross  of  Christ.  Patron  of  Brabant  and 
Luxembourg.    May  1. 

St.  Philip,  Deacon  (^Gr.  'Ay.  <^tAt7r7ros).  It  is  necessary  to  dis- 
tinguish him  from  the  Apostle.  It  was  Philip  the  deacon,  who  bap- 
tized the  chamberlain  of  Queen  Candace.  This  baptism  has  been 
beautifully  illustrated  in  art.    June  6. 

St.  Philip  Benozzi  {Ital.  San  Filippo  Beniti,  or  Benizzi)  stands 
at  the  head  of  the  Order  of  the  Servi  or  Serviti  at  Florence.  He 
was  not  the  founder  of  the  Order,  not  having  joined  it  until  fifteen 
years  after  its  establishment,  but  he  is  their  principal  saint.  The 
history  of  the  origin  of  this  Order  is  full  of  interest,  and  an  outline 
of  it  may  be  given  in  few  words.  It  originated  about  the  year  1232. 
Seven  rich  Florentine  nobles,  in  the  prime  of  life,  were  accustomed 
to  meet  every  day  in  the  Chapel  of  the  Annunziata  to  sing  the  Ave, 
or  evening  service  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  whom  they  especially  ven- 
erated. They  became  so  well  known  for  these  pious  acts  that  the 
women  and  children  cried  out  as  they  passed,  "  Behold  the  servants 
of  the  Virgin  !  "  ("  Guardate  i  Servi  di  Maria  !  At  length  they 
resolved  to  dispense  their  goods  to  the  poor  and  forsake  the  world. 
They  retired  to  Monte  Senario,  about  six  miles  from  Florence,  where 
they  built  huts,  and  lived  for  the  service  of  the  Virgin.  Their  first 
habit  was  plain  white  in  honor  of  the  immaculate  purity  of  Mary, 
but  one  of  the  number  was  warned  in  a  vision  that  they  should 
change  it  to  black,  in  remembrance  of  her  "  maternal  sorrow,  and  the 
death  of  her  divine  Son."  These  men,  being  allied  to  the  proudest 
families  of  Florence,  drew  much  attention  to  their  Order,  and  the 


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257 


city  became  proud  of  them.  St.  Philip  Benozzi  had  studied  medi- 
cine at  the  Universities  of  Paris  and  Padua,  and  was  a  very  learned 
man ;  but  after  receiving  his  degrees  and  commencing  the  practice 
of  surgery  in  Florence,  he  became  greatly  wearied  and  oppressed 
with  the  sight  and  knowledge  of  human  suffering.  One  day  as  he 
listened  to  the  service  in  the  Chapel  of  the  Annunziata,  he  was 
impressed  by  the  words,  "  Draw  near,  and  join  thyself  to  the  chariot." 
He  went  home  full  of  thought  upon  these  words,  and  when  he  slept 
he  had  a  vision  of  the  Virgin  seated  in  a  chariot,  and  she  told  him 
to  draw  near  and  join  her  servants.  Then  he  retired  to  Monte 
Senario,  but  such  was  his  modesty  that  it  was  long  before  the  breth- 
ren knew  that  he  was  so  learned  a  man.  He  distinguished  himself 
as  a  preacher,  but  far  more  as  a  peace-maker,  for  he  did  much  to 
reconcile  the  then  opposing  factions  of  Tuscany.  He  obtained  the 
confirmation  of  his  Order,  and  preached  with  great  success  through 
Italy  and  France.  He  was  General  of  his  Order  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  The  pictures  of  Andrea  del  Sarto  in  the  cloisters  of  the  Annun- 
ziata at  Florence,  have  still  further  immortalized  this  saint.  These 
were  painted  after  his  beatification  by  Leo  X.,  A.  D.  1516  ;  but  his 
canonization  did  not  take  place  until  1671.    August  23,  A.  b.  1285. 

St.  Philip  Weri  {Ital,  San  Filippo  Neri),  who  was  the  founder 
of  the  Order  of  the  Oratorians,  was  a  Florentine,  and  born  in  1515. 
His  father  was  of  one  of  the  oldest  Tuscan  families,  and  a  lawyer. 
When  eighteen  years  old,  Philip  went  to  Rome,  and  became  a  tutor  in 
a  noble  family.  By  his  intellect,  eloquence,  and  purity  of  character, 
he  became  very  influential  in  the  religious  movements  of  his  time. 
He  was  the  intimate  friend  and  almoner  of  St.  Charles  Borromeo,  and 
in  this  capacity  did  much  good.  He  was  ever  employed  in  works  of 
charity,  and  gathered  about  him  young  men,  members  of  the  nobility 
and  the  learned  professions,  who  went  about  reading  and  praying 
with  the  sick  and  needy,  founding  and  visiting  hospitals,  and  various 
charities.  They  were  bound  by  no  vows,  and  were  not  secluded 
from  the  world.  They  called  themselves  Oratorians,  and  from  them 
arose  the  Peres  de  TOratoire  of  France.  St.  Philip  Neri  was  the 
spiritual  adviser  of  the  Massimi  family,  and  it  is  related  that  when 
the  son  and  heir  of  Prince  Fabrizio  Massimi  died  of  a  fever,  St. 
Philip  came  into  the  chamber  where  the  family  were  lamenting  over 
his  dead  body.  Philip  laid  his  hand  on  the  head  of  the  boy,  and 
called  his  name ;  he  opened  his  eyes  and  sat  up.    Philip  then  said. 

Art  thou  unwilling  to  die  ?  "  "  No,"  replied  the  boy.  "  Art  thou 
resigned  to  yield  thy  soul  to  God ? "  "I  am."  " Then  go,"  said  Philip, 
and  the  boy  sank  back  and  expired  with  a  sweet  smile  upon  his  face. 
On  the  16th  of  March  the  Palazzo  Massimi  at  Bome,  is  dressed  for 
a  festival  in  honor  of  this  event,  and  services  are  held  in  the  chapel 
at  which  the  Pope  sometimes  oflficiates.  A  picture  illustrative  of  this 
miracle  is  in  the  Church  of  S.  Maria  della  Yallicella,  which  was 
17 


258 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


given  to  the  Oratorians  when  their  Order  was  confirmed.  In  this 
church  a  chapel  was  dedicated  to  St.  Philip  Neri,  and  a  mosaic  copy 
of  Guido's  picture  of  this  saint  was  placed  there  by  Nero  de'  Neri 
of  Florence.  The  bed,  the  crucifix,  the  books,  and  other  rehcs  of  the 
saint  are  preserved  in  the  oratory.    May  26,  A.  D.  1595. 

St.  Phocas  of  Sinope  {Ital  San  Foca).  This  saint  lived  in 
the  third  century.  He  had  a  cottage  and  garden  near  the  Gate  of 
Sinope  in  Pontus.  His  cottage  was  open  to  all  who  needed  shelter 
and  lodging,  and  the  produce  of  his  garden  was  distributed  to  the 
poor  after  his  own  slight  wants  were  supplied.  As  he  sat  at  supper 
one  night  some  strangers  knocked  at  his  door.  He  asked  them  to 
enter,  gave  them  water  to  wash,  and  set  food  for  them.  Later  in 
the  evening  they  told  him  they  had  been  sent  to  find  Phocas,  who 
had  been  accused  as  a  Christian,  and  they  had  been  commanded  to 
kill  him  wherever  he  should  be  found.  The  saint  betrayed  no  emo- 
tion, and  gave  them  a  chamber  in  which  to  sleep.  When  all  was  at 
rest,  he  went  to  his  garden  and  made  a  grave  among  the  flowers  he 
loved.  In  the  morning  he  announced  that  Phocas  was  found.  The 
guests  rejoiced,  and  said,  "  Where  is  he  ?  "  But  when  he  answered, 
"  I  am  he,"  they  were  unwilling  to  betray  their  host.  Then  he  said, 
"  Since  it  is  the  will  of  God,  I  am  willing  to  die  in  his  cause."  Then 
they  beheaded  him  on  the  border  of  the  grave,  and  buried  him. 
This  saint  is  only  represented  in  Byzantine  Art.  He  is  in  the  garb 
of  a  gardener,  and  has  a  spade  as  his  attribute.  Patron  of  gardens 
and  gardeners.    July  3,  A.  d.  303. 

St.  Placidus  was  the  son  of  Tertullus,  a  Roman  Senator,  who 
placed  this  child  under  the  care  of  St.  Benedict  at  Subiaco,  when 
only  five  years  of  age.  Placidus  was  sent  by  his  superior  to  preach 
in  Sicily,  when  he  was  still  quite  young.  According  to  tradition  his 
sister  Flavia  and  two  young  brothers  joined  him,  and  they  dwelt  in 
a  convent  near  Messina.  This  was  attacked  by  brigands,  who  mas- 
sacred Placidus  and  Flavia,  with  thirty  of  their  companions.  The 
later  Benedictine  writers  do  not  believe  the  account  of  this  massacre. 
He  is  represented  in  the  black  habit  of  his  Order,  or  with  the  rich 
dalmatica  above  a  black  tunic.  The  palm  is  his  attribute.  January 
15,  A.  D.  584. 

Plautilla,  though  not  a  saint,  is  seldom  omitted  in  representations 
of  the  martyrdom  of  St.  Paul.  According  to  the  legend,  she  was  a 
Roman  matron,  and  one  of  the  converts  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul. 
She  placed  herself  on  the  way  by  which  she  knew  that  St.  Paul 
would  pass  to  his  martyrdom  in  order  to  see  him  for  the  last  time. 
When  he  came  she  besought  him  to  bless  her,  and  vrept  greatly. 
Then  Paul  seeing  her  faith  asked  her  to  give  him  her  veil,  that  he 
might  bind  his  eyes  with  it  when  he  was  beheaded,  and  promised 
that  he  would  return  it  to  her  after  his  death.  Then  all  who  heard 
mocked  at  this  promise,  but  Plautilla  gave  him  the  veil ;  and  after 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


259 


his  death  St.  Paul  did  indeed  appear  to  her,  and  gave  her  again  the 
veil  which  was  stained  with  his  blood. 

St.  Potitus  of  Pisa  {Ital  San  Potito).    See  St.  Ephesus. 

St.  Praxedes  and  St.  Pudentiana  {Ital.  Santa  Prassede  e 
Santa  Pudenziana ;  Fr.  Sainte  Prassede  et  Sainte  Potentienne). 
When  St.  Peter  came  to  Rome  he  dwelt  in  the  house  of  Pudens,  who 
was  a  patrician  of  great  wealth.  Not  long  after  the  coming  of  the 
apostle,  Pudens  and  Sabinelhi,  his  wife,  with  Novatus  his  son,  and  his 
two  daughters,  Praxedes  and  Pudentiana,  were  all  converted  and 
baptized.  Soon  after  the  parents  and  brother  died,  and  the  sisters, 
left  alone,  inherited  all  the  riches  of  the  family.  They  had  houses 
and  public  baths  at  the  foot  of  the  Esquiline.  Then  began  the  first 
great  persecution,  in  which  St.  Peter  perished.  Now  the  sisters  de- 
termined to  devote  themselves  to  the  relief  and  care  of  the  suffering 
Christians,  and  to  the  burying  of  the  bodies  of  such  as  were  slain. 
They  had  the  assistance  of  a  holy  man  named  Pastorus,  who  was 
devoted  in  their  service.  They  shrank  from  nothing  that  came  in 
the  way  of  their  self-imposed  duties.  They  sought  out  and  received 
into  their  houses  such  as  were  torn  and  mutilated  by  tortures.  They 
visited  and  fed  such  as  were  in  prison.  They  took  up  the  bodies  of 
the  martyred  ones  which  were  cast  out  without  burial,  and  carefully 
washing  and  shrouding  them,  they  laid  them  reverently  in  the  caves 
beneath  their  houses.  All  the  blood  they  collected  with  sponges,  and 
deposited  in  a  certain  well.  Thus  boldly  they  showed  forth  the  faith 
which  was  in  them,  and  yet  they  escaped  persecution  and  martyrdom, 
and  died  peacefully  and  were  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Priscilla. 
Pastorus  wrote  a  history  of  their  deeds  and  virtues.  Their  house, 
which  was  made  sacred  not  only  by  their  lives  but  by  the  preaching 
of  St.  Peter,  was  consecrated  as  a  place  of  Christian  worship  by  Pope 
Pius  1.  Their  churches  are  among  the  interesting  remains  of  ancient 
Rome.  In  the  nave  of  the  Church  of  Santa  Prassede  is  a  well,  in 
which  she  was  said  to  have  put  the  blood  of  those  who  suffered  on 
the  Esquiline,  while  the  holy  sponge  is  preserved  in  a  silver  shrine 
in  the  sacristy.  In  the  Church  of  St.  Pudentiana  there  is  a  well,  said 
to  contain  the  relics  of  three  thousand  martyrs.  These  sisters  are 
richly  draped  in  pictures,  and  the  sponge  and  cup  are  their  especial 
attributes.    July  21,  and  May  19,  a.  d.  148. 

St.  Prisca.  The  church  of  this  saint  at  Rome  on  the  Aventine, 
is  supposed  to  occupy  the  spot  on  which  stood  the  house  of  Aquila 
and  Priscilla,  where  St.  Peter  lodged ;  which  site  was  thought  to  be 
also  that  of  the  Temple  of  Diana  founded  by  Servius  TuUius.  And 
here  is  shown  the  font  in  which  St.  Peter  baptized  the  earliest  con- 
verts in  Rome,  and  among  others  St.  Prisca.  According  to  the  le- 
gend, she  was  a  virgin  of  illustrious  family,  and  was  exposed  to  the 
beasts  of  the  amphitheatre  when  but  thirteen  years  of  age.  A  fierce 
lion,  who  was  let  loose  upon  her,  humbly  licked  her  feet,  to  the  joy  of 


260 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


the  Christians.  She  was  then  beheaded,  and  an  eagle  watched  over 
her  body  until  it  was  buried.  She  is  represented  bearing  a  palm 
with  the  lion  beside  her,  and  sometimes  the  eagle,  thus  being  hon- 
ored by  the  kings  of  both  beasts  and  birds,  as  the  legend  remarks. 
The  name  of  St.  Prisca  is  retained  in  the  calendar  of  the  English 
Church.     January  18,  a.  d.  275. 

St.  Procopius  was  King  of  Bohemia.  He  relinquished  his  crown 
and  became  a  hermit.  Many  years  passed  without  his  being  known, 
but  at  length  as  a  certain  Prince  Ulrich  was  hunting,  he  pursued  a 
hind  which  fled  for  safety  to  the  arms  of  St.  Procopius,  and  so  he 
was  discovered.  On  account  of  the  similarity  of  the  attribute,  his 
pictures  are  sometimes  mistaken  for  those  of  St.  Giles.  July  8,  a.  d. 
303. 

St.  Proculus  is  the  military  patron  of  Bologna.  In  the  time  of 
the  tenth  persecution,  a  cruel  man  named  Marinus  was  sent  to  Bo- 
logna to  enforce  the  edict  of  the  emperor.  Proculus  was  so  filled 
with  indignation,  which  might  almost  be  called  holy,  that  he  entered 
the  house  of  Marinus  and  killed  him  with  an  axe,  which  axe  is  the 
attribute  given  him  in  art.  He  sometimes  carries  a  head  in  his 
hands  which  may  be  either  that  of  Marinus  or  his  own. 

St.  Protasius  of  Milan.    See  St.  Gervasius. 

St.  Pudentiana  (ML  Santa  Pudenziana ;  Fr.  Sainte  Poten- 
tienne).     See  St.  Praxedes. 

Quattro  Coronati,  or  the  Four  Crowned  Brothers.  According  to 
tradition  these  were  four  Christian  brothers,  workers  in  wood  and 
stone,  who  dwelt  in  Rome  at  the  time  of  Diocletian.  They  refused 
to  employ  their  art  in  fashioning  gods  or  building  temples  for  them, 
and  for  this  suffered  martyrdom.  Some  were  scourged  ;  some  be- 
headed ;  and  some  put  in  iron  cages  and  cast  into  the  sea.  The 
"  Cinque  Martiri "  were  also  of  the  same  trades  and  their  fate  the 
same.  The  names  of  the  Coronati  are  given  as  SS.  Carpophorus, 
Severus,  Severianus,  and  Yictorianus.  The  church  dedicated  to  them 
is  on  the  part  of  the  Coelian  Hill  which  extends  from  the  Lateran  to 
the  Coliseum.  It  is  said  that  their  remains  were  found  here  during 
the  fourth  century.  Their  title  of  Coronati  alludes  to  the  crown  of 
martyrdom.  The  five  martyrs  (I  Cinque  Martiri)  are  honored  at 
the  same  time  and  place  with  the  Coronati,  and  they  are  represented 
in  art  with  the  implements  of  their  profession  :  the  mallet,  chisel, 
square,  and  rule,  bearing  palms  and  wearing  crowns.    November  4, 

A.  D.  400. 

St.  Quintin  was  the  son  of  Zeno.  He  became  converted,  and 
gave  up  a  high  command  which  he  held  in  the  Roman  army  in  order 
to  preach.  He  labored  especially  in  Belgium  and  at  Amiens.  He  was 
accused  before  the  prefect  Rictius  Varus,  and  suffered  death  by  being 
impaled  on  an  iron  spit.  This  instrument  of  his  torture  is  his  attri- 
bute, which  is  not  always  represented.    October  31,  a.  d.  287. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


261 


St.  Quirinus  was  a  soldier  in  the  army  of*  Aurelian.  He  became 
a  Christian,  and  preached  so  openly  as  to  especially  exasperate  his 
officers,  who  were  pagans.  His  martyrdom  was  extreme  in  cruelty. 
His  tongue  was  first  taken  out  and  thrown  to  a  hawk.  He  was  then 
dragged  to  death  by  horses.  He  is  represented  in  armor  with  a 
horse,  and  a  hawk,  and  a  shield,  with  nine  balls  as  well  as  the  mar- 
tyr's palm. 

St.  Quirinus,  Bishop  of  Sissek  in  Croatia.  He  was  martyred  by 
being  drowned  with  a  millstone  about  his  neck.  One  of  the  eight 
guardian  saints  of  Austria.    June  4,  A.  d.  309. 

St.  Radegunda  was  the  daughter  of  the  King  of  Thuringia, 
Berthaire,  and  the  wife  of  Clothaire  Y.  of  France,  who  first  carried 
her  captive  with  all  her  family  and  afterwards  married  her.  This 
queen  was  devoted  to  prayer  and  alms-giving,  and  often  wore  be- 
neath her  royal  garments,  one  of  penitential  hair-cloth.  One  day  as 
she  walked  in  her  garden  she  heard  the  prisoners,  who  were  only 
separated  from  her  by  a  wall,  weeping  and  imploring  pity.  She 
thought  of  her  own  sorrows  in  the  past,  and  she  prayed  earnestly  for 
them,  not  knowing  how  else  to  aid  them.  And  as  she  prayed  their 
fetters  burst  in  sunder  and  they  were  freed  from  captivity.  Later  in 
life  Radegunda  took  the  religious  habit,  and  founded  a  monastery  at 
Poitiers.  She  is  represented  with  the  royal  crown,  and  beneath  it  a 
long  veil.  A  captive  kneels  before  her  with  his  broken  fetters  in  his 
hand.    August  13,  A.  d.  587. 

Ragnar  Lodbrog.    See  St.  Edmund. 

St.  Ranieri  {ltd.  San  Ranieri;  Fr.  St.  Regnier).  The  whole 
life  of  this  saint  was  full  of  poetry  and  mystery.  He  was  born  in 
or  about  the  year  1100.  His  family  was  that  of  the  Scaccieri  of 
Pisa.  In  his  youth  an  eagle  appeared  to  him  bearing  in  his  beak  a 
blazing  light,  and  said,  "  I  come  from  Jerusalem  to  enlighten  the  na- 
tions." But  Ranieri  lived  a  life  devoted  to  pleasure.  At  length 
as  he  one  day  played  the  lyre  surrounded  by  beautiful  damsels,  a  holy 
man  passed  by  who  turned  and  looked  on  Ranieri ;  and  there  was  so 
much  of  sorrowful  sadness  in  his  gaze  that  the  young  man  threw 
down  his  lyre  and  followed  the  man  of  God,  bewailing  and  weeping 
on  account  of  his  sins  and  wasted  life.  Soon  he  embarked  for  Jeru- 
salem, where  he  took  off  his  own  garments  and  wore  the  schiavina, 
or  slave-shirt,  and  this  he  wore  ever  after  in  token  of  his  humility. 
He  lived  the  life  of  a  hermit,  in  the  deserts  of  Palestine,  for  twenty 
years.  During  this  time  he  had  numberless  visions.  On  one  occa- 
sion he  felt  his  vows  of  abstinence  to  be  almost  more  than  he  could 
keep.  He  then  had  a  vision  of  a  golden  vase  set  with  precious 
stones  and  full  of  oil,  pitch,  and  sulphur.  These  were  kindled  to  fire 
and  none  could  quench  the  flames.  Then  there  was  put  into  his 
hands  a  small  ewer  of  water,  and  when  he  turned  on  but  a  few  drops 
the  fire  was  extinguished.    This  vision  he  believed  to  signify  the 


262  LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 

human  passions,  by  the  pitch  and  sulphur;  but  the  water  was  the 
emblem  of  temperance.  He  then  determined  to  live  on  bread  and 
water  alone.  His  reverence  for  water  was  very  great,  and  most  of  his 
miracles  were  performed  through  the  use  of  it,  so  that  he  was  called 
San  Ranieri  delP  Acqua.  But  when  he  tarried  with  a  host  who 
cheated  his  guests  by  putting  water  in  his  wine,  the  saint  did  not 
hesitate  to  expose  the  fraud,  for  he  revealed  to  all  present  the  figure 
of  Satan  sitting  on  one  of  the  wine-casks  in  the  form  of  a  huge  cat 
with  the  wings  of  a  bat.  He  did  many  miracles  after  his  return  to 
Pisa,  and  made  converts  by  the  sanctity  of  his  life  and  example. 
When  he  died  many  miraculous  manifestations  bore  witness  to  his 
eminent  holiness.  All  the  bells  in  Pisa  were  spontaneously  tolled,  and 
the  Archbishop  Yillani,  who  had  been  sick  in  bed  for  two  years,  was 
cured  to  attend  his  funeral.  At  the  moment  in  the  funeral  service 
when  it  was  the  custom  to  omit  the  "  Gloria  in  Excelsis,"  it  was  sung 
by  a  choir  of  angels  above  the  altar,  while  the  organ  accompanied 
them  without  being  played  by  any  perceptible  hands.  The  harmony 
of  this  chant  was  so  exquisite  that  those  who  heard  it  thought  the 
very  heavens  were  opened.  He  was  buried  in  a  tomb  in  the  Duomo. 
After  the  plague  in  Pisa  in  1356,  the  life  of  this  saint  was  painted  in 
the  Campo  Santo  by  Simone  Memmi  and  Antonio  Veneziano.  These 
frescoes  are  most  important  in  the  history  of  art,  and  consist  of  eight 
scenes  from  the  life  of  St.  Ranieri.  (1.)  His  conversion.  (2.)  He  em- 
barks for  Palestine.  (3.)  He  assumes  the  hermit's  dress.  (4.)  He  has 
many  temptations  and  visions  in  the  desert.  (5.)  He  returns  to  Pisa. 
(6.)  He  exposes  the  fraud  of  the  innkeeper.  (7.)  His  death  and 
funeral  obsequies.  (8.)  His  miracles  after  death.  July  17,  A.  D.  1161. 

St.  Raphael,  the  Archangel  {Lat.  Sanctus  Raphael ;  Ital.  San 
RafFaello ;  Fr,  St.  Raphael ;  Ger,  Der  Heilige  Rafael.  Significa- 
tion :  The  Medicine  of  God).  Raphael  is  considered  the  guardian 
angel  of  humanity.  He  was  sent  to  warn  Adam  of  the  danger  of 
sin  and  its  unhappy  consequences. 

"  Be  strong,  live  happy,  and  love !  but  first  of  all 
Him  whom  to  love  is  to  obey,  and  keep 
His  great  command ;  take  heed  lest  passion  sway 
Thy  judgment  to  do  aught,  which  else  free-will 
Would  not  admit;  thine,  and  of  all  thy  sons 
The  weal  or  woe  in  thee  is  placed;  beware!  "  —  Milton, 

He  was  the  herald  who  bore  to  the  shepherds  the  "  good  tidings  of 
great  joy  which  shall  be  for  all  people."  He  is  especially  the  protector 
of  the  young,  the  pilgrim,  and  the  traveller.  In  the  apocryphal  ro- 
mance, his  watchful  care  of  the  young  Tobias  during  his  eventful  jour- 
ney is  typical  of  his  benignity  and  loving  condescension  towards  those 
whom  he  protects.  His  countenance  is  represented  as  full  of  benignity. 
Devotional  pictures  portray  him  dressed  as  a  pilgrim,  with  sandals ; 
his  hair  bound  with  a  diadem  or  a  fillet ;  the  staff  in  his  hand,  and  a 
wallet  or  panetiere  hung  to  his  belt.    As  a  guardian  spirit  he  bears 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART.  263 

the  sword  and  a  small  casket  or  vase,  containing  the  "  fishy  charm  " 
(Tobit  vi.  6)  against  evil  spirits.  As  guardian  angel  he  usually 
leads  Tobias.    The  picture  of  Murillo  in  the  Leuchtenberg  Gallery, 


(Leuchtenberg  Gallery,  Murillo. )   St.  Raphael. 


represents  him  as  the  guardian  angel  of  a  bishop  who  appears  as  a 
votary  below.    September  12. 

St.  Raymond  (^Sp.  San  Ramon).  On  account  of  the  circum- 
stances of  his  birth  this  saint  is  styled  Nonnatus.  He  belonged  to  the 
Order  of  Mercy,  and  labored  for  the  captives  among  the  Moors.  Ac- 
cording to  tradition  his  lips  were  bored  through  with  a  red-hot  iron 
and  fastened  with  a  padlock.  He  was  a  cardinal,  and  the  General 
of  his  Order.  He  presided  at  a  chapter  held  at  Barcelona.  Pope 
Gregory  IX.  and  King  James  o{  Aragon  assisted  at  his  funeral  obse- 
quies.   August  31,  A.  D.  1240. 


264 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


St.  Raymond  of  Penaforte  was  born  at  the  castle  belonging 
to  his  family  at  Penaforte  in  Catalonia.  He  was  allied  to  the  royal 
house  of  Aragon,  and  his  family  were  of  Barcelona.  He  early  en- 
tered upon  a  religious  life,  and  became  a  model  in  his  zealous  devo- 
tion to  the  church  and  his  charity  to  the  poor.  He  assumed  the 
habit  of  the  Dominican  Order,  and  was  the  third  General  of  the 
Order.  His  zealous  preaching  against  the  Moors  was  thought  to  be 
the  first  cause  of  the  final  expulsion  of  the  infidels  from  Spain.  A 
miracle  which  he  is  said  to  have  performed,  and  which  is  attested  to 
in  the  bull  of  his  canonization,  is  related  thus  :  Raymond  was  the 
spiritual  director  of  King  James  of  Aragon  (el  Conquistador).  This 
king  was  an  accomplished  gentleman,  and  did  not  incline  to  allow 
his  confessor  to  interfere  with  his  pleasures.  Now  he  was  greatly  in 
love  with  a  beautiful  woman  of  his  court  from  whom  Raymond  at- 
tempted to  separate  him  in  vain.  The  king  summoned  the  priest  to 
attend  him  to  Majorca,  but  he  refused  to  go  unless  the  lady  remained 
behind.  James  affected  to  comply,  but  the  lady  accompanied  him 
in  the  dress  of  a  page.  Raymond  soon  discovered  the  deceit  and 
remonstrated  severely  with  the  king,  who  was  very  angry.  The 
priest  threatened  to  return  to  Spain,  but  James  forbade  any  vessel  to 
leave  the  port,  and  passed  sentence  of  death  upon  any  who  should 
aid  Raymond  to  go  away.  St.  Raymond  then  said,  ^'An  earthly 
king  has  deprived  us  of  the  means  of  escape,  but  a  Heavenly  King 
will  supply  them."  Then  walking  up  to  a  rock  which  projected  into 
the  sea,  he  spread  his  cloak  on  the  waters,  and,  setting  his  staff 
upright  and  tying  one  corner  to  it  for  a  sail,  he  made  the  sign  of  the 
cross,  and  boldly  embarked  in  this  new  kind  of  vessel.  He  was  wafted 
over  the  surface  of  the  ocean  with  such  rapidity  that  in  six  hours  he 
reached  Barcelona."  This  miracle  was  attested  to  by  five  hundred 
persons,  who  saw  him  land  at  Barcelona  and  take  up  his  cloak  per- 
fectly dry  from  the  water  and  wrap  it  round  him,  and  then  with  an 
air  of  great  humility  retire  to  his  cell.  Don  Jayme,  overcome  by 
this  miracle,  repented  of  his  obstinacy  and  afterwards  governed  his 
kingdom  and  his  life  by  the  advice  of  St.  Ramon.  He  is  represented 
in  the  black  habit  of  his  Order,  and  kneels  on  his  mantle  while  he  is 
borne  over  the  sea,  or  else  the  miracle  is  represented  in  the  back- 
ground.   January  23,  A.  D.  1275. 

St.  Regulus  was  an  African  bishop.  He  fled  from  his  diocese 
in  the  time  of  the  contentions  between  the  Arians  and  Catholics.  He 
came  to  Tuscany  and  lived  the  life  of  an  anchoret.  In  the  invasior 
of  Totila  he  was  beheaded.  According  to  tradition  he  took  up  his 
head  and  proceeded  two  stadia,  when  he  sat  down.  Being  found 
thus  by  two  of  his  disciples  he  gave  them  his  head,  and  they  buried 
him  there  with  great  reverence  and  (what  is  not  strange)  unspeak- 
able aive. 

St.  E-eparata  was  a  virgin  of  Cesarea  in  Cappadocia.    In  the 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


265 


persecution  under  Decius  she  was  martyrized,  though  only  twelve 
years  old.  As  she  died  her  spirit  was  seen  to  issue  from  her  mouth 
in  shape  like  a  dove,  and  to  fly  to  heaven.  This  saint  was  for  six 
hundred  years  the  chief  patroness  of  Florence,  and  the  Duomo  was 
dedicated  in  her  name ;  but  it  was  re-dedicated  to  Santa  Maria-del- 
Fiore.  She  is  represented  in  various  colored  robes,  and  bears  the 
crown,  palm,  book,  and  a  banner  with  a  red  cross  on  a  white  ground. 

St.  Roch  (^Lat.  Sanctus  Ro- 
chus ;  Ital.  San  Rocco ;  Fr.  St. 
Koch  or  Roque)  was  the  son 
of  noble  parents.  Montpelier,  in 
Languedoc,  was  his  birthplace. 
When  he  was  born,  there  was  a 
small  red  cross  on  his  breast.  His 
mother  interpreted  this  as  a  sign 
that  he  should  be  consecrated  to 
God's  service,  and  educated  him 
with  great  care.  The  saint  too 
was  of  the  same  mind;  but  he 
inclined  to  follow  the  example  of 
Jesus,  —  to  go  about  to  do  good  in 
preference  to  that  of  many  holy 
men,  who  flee  from  the  world  to 
serve  God.  His  parents  died 
when  he  was  less  than  twenty 
years  old,  and  left  him  vast 
estates.  He  sold  all,  and  gave 
the  money  to  hospitals  and  to  the 
poor.  He  then  went  on  foot  to 
Rome  in  the  garb  of  a  pilgrim. 
When  he  arrived  at  Aquapen- 
dente  a  terrible  plague  was  raging 
there.  St.  Roch  offered  to  attend 
the  sick  in  the  hospitals.  He  was 
especially  successful  in  his  care  of 
the  plague-stricken,  and  it  ap- 
peared that  some  peculiar  bless- 
ing attended  him ;  so  prevalent 
was  this  idea  that,  considering 
his  youth  and  gentleness,  the  peo- 
ple were  ready  to  believe  him  an 
ano;el ;   and  he  himself  was  not 


(Carotto.) 


Roch. 


without  the  thought  that  a  special  blessing  was  on  his  efforts.  He 
then  went  to  Cesena  and  Rimini,  where  he  labored  in  the  same  man- 
ner, and  then  he  arrived  at  Rome  in  the  midst  of  a  fearful  pestilence, 
and  for  three  years  more  devoted  himself  to  the  care  of  the  most 


266 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


hopeless  cases.  He  constantly  prayed  that  God  might  find  him 
worthy  to  die  as  a  martyr  to  this  care  for  others.  Years  passed 
thus,  and  he  went  from  city  to  city,  wherever  he  heard  of  any  dread- 
ful disease  and  sulFering.  At  length  at  Piacenza  he  was  himself 
struck  down  by  an  unknown  epidemic  then  raging  there.  One  night 
he  sank  down  in  the  hospital  weary  with  nursing,  and  fell  asleep. 
When  he  awoke  he  found  himself  plague-stricken  with  a  horrible 
ulcer  on  his  thigh,  the  pain  of  which  compelled  him  to  shriek  aloud. 
He  feared  lest  he  should  disturb  others,  and  crawled  into  the  street ; 
but  he  was  not  allowed  to  remain  there.  He  then  dragged  himself  to 
a  wood  outside  the  city,  and  lay  down  to  die.  But  a  little  dog 
which  had  attended  him  in  all  his  wanderings  now  cared  for  him, 
and  brought  him  each  day  a  loaf  of  bread.  According  to  the  legend 
an  angel  also  dressed  his  wound  and  cared  for  him,  but  others  doubt- 
ing this,  believe  that  it  was  a  man  named  Gothard,  who  did  this  for 
him ;  but  be  this  as  it  may,  as  soon  as  he  was  able  he  set  out  for  his 
home.  When  he  arrived  at  a  little  village  near  Montpelier,  where 
the  land  belonged  to  his  estates,  and  the  people  were  the  vassals  of 
his  family,  no  one  knew  him,  and  they  regarded  him  so  suspiciously 
that  they  took  him  before  the  judge  as  a  spy.  The  judge  was  his 
uncle,  but  even  he  did  not  recognize  him,  and  condemned  him  to  be 
imprisoned.  St.  E,och  regarded  all  this  as  the  will  of  God,  and 
said  nothing,  desiring  that  all  should  be  as  Providence  should  direct. 
So  he  was  cast  into  a  dungeon.  There  was  no  one  to  plead  for  him, 
and  he  adhered  to  his  resolve  of  silence ;  thus  he  remained  five  years. 
One  morning  when  the  jailer  went  to  his  cell  it  was  filled  with  a 
glory  of  light,  and  the  prisoner  lay  dead  with  a  paper  beside  him, 
which  told  his  name,  and  these  words  also  :  All  those  who  are 
stricken  by  the  plague,  and  who  pray  for  aid  through  the  merits  and 
intercession  of  St.  Roch,  the  servant  of  God,  shall  be  healed."  Then 
the  judge,  when  he  saw  this  paper,  wept  and  was  filled  with  re- 
morse. He  was  honorably  buried  midst  the  prayers  of  the  whole  city. 
Nearly  a  century  clasped  before  St.  Roch  was  heard  of  outside  his 
native  city,  where  he  was  held  in  the  greatest  possible  veneration. 
But  at  the  time  of  the  great  church  council  at  Constance,  the  plague 
broke  out  in  that  city,  and  the  priests  were  about  to  fly  from  it  in 
consternation  when  a  German  monk,  who  had  been  in  France,  advised 
that  the  power  of  St.  Boch  should  be  tested  in  this  emergency.  His 
counsel  was  followed,  and  the  image  of  the  saint  borne  through  the 
city  accompanied  by  a  solemn  procession,  with  prayers  and  litanies. 
Then  the  plague  ceased,  and  to  this  the  enlarged  consideration  of  St. 
E-och  may  be  traced.  Towards  the  close  of  the  fifteenth  century  the 
Venetians,  who  were  especially  exposed  to  the  plague  from  their  com- 
mercial intercourse  with  the  East,  resolved  to  possess,  if  possible,  the 
relics  of  St.  Boch.  The  men  appointed  to  accomplish  the  purpose 
went  to  Montpelier  as  pilgrims.    They  succeeded  in  carrying  away 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


267 


the  sacred  remains,  and  were  received  with  joy  hj  all  Venice,  from 
the  Doge  down  to  the  poorest  beggar.  Then  the  splendid  Church 
of  San  Rocco  was  built  under  the  auspices  of  a  society  which 
already  existed  in  Venice  for  the  care  of  the  sick,  and  which  had 
been  formed  under  his  protection.  In  this  society  many  of  the 
nobility  enrolled  themselves.  Many  votive  pictures  are  seen  of  this 
saint,  in  which  he  is  represented  as  interceding  for  the  sick  person, 
who  is  introduced  in  the  painting.  In  devotional  pictures,  St.  Roch 
is  represented  as  a  man  in  middle  age,  of  refined  and  delicate  fea- 
tures, with  an  expression  of  benevolence  and  kindness.  He  is  dressed 
as  a  pilgrim,  with  the  cockle-shell  on  his  hat,  the  staff  in  his  hand, 
and  the  wallet  at  his  side.  With  one  hand  he  points  to  the  plague 
spot  on  his  side,  or  lifts  his  robe  to  show  it.  His  dog  also  attends 
him.  Patron  of  all  who  are  in  prison ;  of  all  sick  persons  in  hospi- 
tals, but  especially  of  those  afflicted  by  the  plague.  August  16,  a.  d. 
1327. 

St.  Komain,  whose  whole  history  is  painted  on  the  windows  of 
the  Cathedral  of  Rouen,  was  bishop  of  that  city  in  the  time  of  Clo- 
vis  I.  He  is  considered  as  the  great  Apostle  of  Normandy,  for  he 
preached 'there  with  remarkable  zeal  and  overthrew  paganism.  The 
Seine  at  one  time  so  overflowed  its  banks  as  to  threaten  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  city.  St.  Romain  commanded  the  waters  to  retire,  but 
of  the  slime  and  mud  which  remained  a  poisonous  dragon  was  born, 
called  by  the  French,  la  Gargouille ;  this  monster  spread  consterna- 
tion all  along  the  shores  of  the  river.  Then  the  saint,  by  the  aid  of 
a  wicked  murderer,  went  forth  and  slew  the  beast.  From  this  time 
it  was  the  privilege  of  the  chapter  of  Rouen  to  pardon  a  criminal 
condemned  to  death ;  and  this  was  so  until  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 
tion.   February  28,  A.  d.  639. 

St.  Romualdo  was  born  at  Ravenna,  of  the  noble  family  of  the 
Onesti,  about  the  year  956.  He  was  trained  like  other  young  noble- 
men, and  loved  the  chase,  but  often  as  he  rode  on  the  hunt  in  the 
forests  of  Ravenna,  he  was  soothed  and  charmed  by  the  beauty  of 
the  scenery,  and  would  slacken  his  pace,  and  become  absorbed  in  the 
thought  of  the  quiet  peace  of  those  who  dwelt  alone  with  Nature. 
Then  he  would  breathe  a  prayer,  and  return  to  his  busy  life  of  pleas- 
ure. But  his  father,  Sergius,  was  a  man  of  very  different  mettle.  He 
was  proud  and  self-willed,  and  could  brook  no  opposition.  Having 
disagreed  with  a  relative  concerning  the  succession  of  a  certain  pas- 
ture, he  challenged  him  to  combat  and  slew  him.  Romualdo  was 
present  at  the  time,  and  was  so  overpowered  with  horror  that  he 
believed  it  his  duty  to  expiate  his  father's  crime.  He  retired  to  a 
monastery  near  Ravenna,  Sant'  Apollinare  in  Classe,  and  assumed 
the  habit  of  the  Benedictines.  But  to  his  enthusiastic  and  sensitive 
temperament,  the  irregularities  of  the  monks  were  unendurable ;  after 
seven  years  passed  here  he  conceived  the  idea  of  establishing  new 


268 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


monastical  institutions,  according  to  the  pure  spirit  wliicli  he  felt 

should  control  them,  and  of 
reforming  the  old  ones  and 
raising  them  to  the  same 
standard.  Henceforth  his 
life  was  a  continuous  bat- 
tle. He  was  hated  and  re- 
viled by  monks  every- 
where, and  even  his  life 
was  in  danger  from  the  bit- 
terness of  their  enmity  to 
him.  But  he  scorned  all 
danger,  and  despised  all 
persecution,  and  fought 
most  bravely  by  prayer 
and  labor  for  the  cause  he 
had  undertaken  to  main- 
tain. His  first  monastery 
was  founded  near  Arezzo 
in  the  Apennines;  in  a 
glen  called  Campo-Maldoli, 
from  the  name  of  the  family 
to  whom  it  belonged.  From 
this  the  new  Order  was 
called  that  of  the  Camal- 
doli.  The  members  of  this 
Order  are  consecrated  to 
perpetual  service  to  God; 
they  strictly  practice  soli- 
tude, silence,  and  contem- 
plation ;  they  do  not  even 


(National  Gallery.)    St.  Komualdo. 


eat  together,  but  each  lives  in  a  separate  hut  with  his  own  garden, 
in  order  to  comply  with  the  requirements  for  manual  labor.  The 
Camaldolesi  are  among  the  most  severe  of  all  monks,  and  are  in  fact 
hermits  in  societies.  According  to  the  legend  the  color  of  the  habit 
of  his  Order  was  changed  in  this  wise :  Not  long  before  his  death  the 
saint  fell  asleep  beside  a  fountain  not  far  from  his  cell,  and  he  beheld 
a  vision  of  a  ladder  reaching  from  earth  to  heaven,  on  which  the 
brethren  of  his  Order  ascended  by  twos  and  threes,  and  all  dressed 
in  white.  So  he  immediately  changed  the  color,  which  had  been 
black,  and  white  has  ever  since  been  worn  by  the  Camaldolesi. 
Thirty  years  after  his  secession  from  his  first  convent  he  had  become 
famous  throughout  the  north  of  Italy,  and  had  communities  of  re- 
formed monks  numbering  hundreds.  He  is  represented  with  a  loose 
white  habit,  and  a  full  beard  which  falls  to  his  girdle,  and  leans  upon 
a  crutch.    February  7,  a.  d.  1027. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


269 


St.  Romulo  (JLat.  Sanctus  Romulus)  was  a  noble  Roman,  whom, 
according  to  the  legend,  St.  Peter  sent  to  preach  to  the  people  of 
Fiesole,  which  was  then  a  most  important  Etruscan  city.  After  thus 
being  the  apostle  he  became  the  first  bishop  of  Fiesole.  He  was  at 
length  accused  before  the  prastor,  as  a  Christian,  and  was  sentenced 
to  sufier  death.  This  was  in  the  time  of  Nero.  After  suffering  the 
most  cruel  tortures,  he  was  slain  with  a  dagger.  The  old  cathedral 
of  Fiesole  is  dedicated  to  St.  Romulo.  He  is  represented  in  the 
episcopal  robes,  and  bears  the  palm.    July  23. 

Santa  Rosa  di  Lima  was  born  at  Lima  in  Peru,  and  is  the 
only  canonized  female  saint  of  the  New  World.  The  principal  thing 
by  which  she  is  distinguished  is  the  extreme  hatred  she  had  of 
vanity,  and  consequently  of  beauty,  which  she  regarded  as  the  root 
of  vanity.  The  severities  of  her  life  also,  were  very  great.  She 
was  especially  beautiful  in  her  complexion,  on  account  of  which  she 
was  named.  She  rejected  many  suitors,  and  at  last  destroyed  her 
great  charm  with  a  compound  of  pepper  and  quicklime.  When  her 
mother  commanded  her  to  wear  a  wreath  of  roses  she  so  arranged  it 
that  it  was  in  truth  a  crown  of  thorns.  Her  food  was  principally 
bitter  herbs.  She  was  a  model  of  filial  devotion,  and  maintained  her 
parents  by  her  labor  after  they  had  become  poor,  toiling  all  day  in 
her  garden,  and  all  night  with  her  needle.  She  took  the  habit  of 
the  Third  Order  of  St.  Dominick.  The  Peruvian  legend  relates, 
that  when  Pope  Clement  X.  was  asked  to  canonize  her,  he  refused, 
exclaiming,  "  India  y  Santa  !  asi  como  Uneven  rosas  !  "  India  and 
saint !  as  likely  as  that  it  should  rain  roses  !  ")  Instantly  a  shower 
of  roses  commenced  in  the  Vatican,  and  did  not  cease  till  the  Pope 
acknowledged  his  mistaken  incredulity.  Stirling's  "  Artists  of  Spain," 
thus  speaks  of  Santa  Rosa :  "  This  flower  of  Sanctity,  whose  fra- 
grance has  filled  the  whole  Christian  world,  is  the  patroness  of 
America,  the  St.  Theresa  of  Transatlantic  Spain."  In  a  picture  by 
Murillo,  she  is  represented  with  a  thorny  crown ;  holding  in  her 
hand  the  figure  of  the  Infant  Saviour,  which  rests  on  full-blown 
roses.    August  30,  A.  d.  1617. 

St.  Rosa  di  Viterbo  was  a  member  of  the  Third  Order  of  St. 
Francis.  She  lived  in  the  thirteenth  century,  and  was  remarkable 
for  the  influence  she  exercised  in  Yiterbo,  as  well  as  for  her  extensive 
charities  and  the  eloquence  of  her  speech.  She  lived  a  life  of  great 
austerity.  She  is  now  the  patroness  of  that  city,  to  which  while 
living  she  was  a  benefactress.  She  is  represented  in  a  gray  tunic, 
with  knotted  girdle,  and  a  chaplet  of  roses.    May  8,  a.  d.  1261. 

St.  Rosalia  of  Palermo,  whose  statue  towers  upon  the  sum- 
mit of  Monte  Pellegrino,  overlooking  the  Mediterranean,  and  cheer- 
ing the  mariners  who  consider  her  their  protectress,  was  a  Sicilian 
virgin  of  noble  birth.  When  scarcely  sixteen  years  old  she  with- 
drew from  her  home  and  friends  secretly,  and  lived  in  a  cave  in 


270 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


Monte  Pellegrino,  near  the  summit.  She  had  rejected  many  suitors, 
and  longed  for  the  solitude  where  nothing  could  distract  her  mind 
from  the  service  of  God.  She  died  without  having  been  discovered, 
and  twice  after  she  had  ascended  to  her  heavenly  bridegroom,  she 
interceded  for  Palermo,  and  saved  it  from  the  ravages  of  the  pesti- 
lence. At  length  her  remains  were  discovered  lying  in  her  cave,  and 
such  was  the  purity  of  this  unsullied  virgin,  that  they  remained 
uncorrupted,  even  in  death !  Her  name  was  inscribed  above  her  in 
the  rock,  and  on  her  head  was  a  crown  made  of  the  roses  of  Para- 
dise, and  placed  there  by  angels.  Her  cave  has  becomt.  a  chapel  to 
which  pilgrims  resort.  She  is  usually  represented  reclining  in  her 
cave,  which  is  bright  with  celestial  light ;  angels  crown  her  with 
roses,  and  she  holds  a  crucifix  upon  her  breast.  Again,  standing  and 
inscribing  her  name  upon  the  rock.  She  wears  a  brown  tunic,  some- 
times ragged,  and  her  h^^ir  is  loose  about  her.  September  4,  A.  d. 
1160. 

Rosary,  The.  The  beads  used  by  Romanists  and  called  by  this 
name  are  so  often  represented  in  art,  that  an  explanation  of  its  use 
and  signification  will  not  be  out  of  place.  The  use  of  beads  to  as- 
sist the  memory  in  regard  to  the  number  of  prayers  recited,  is  of 
very  ancient  date  and  of  eastern  origin.  They  are  used  by  the 
Mohammedans,  and  were  employed  by  the  Benedictines  before  their 
use  became  general  in  the  Church.  The  rosary  in  its  present  ac- 
cepted form  was  instituted  by  St.  Dominick.  He  invented  a  new  ar- 
rangement of  the  beads  and  dedicated  it  to  the  Blessed  Virgin.  The 
festival  of  the  Rosary  was  instituted  by  Gregory  XHI.  after  the  bat- 
tle of  Lepanto,  a.  d.  1571,  and  from  this  time  it  became  popular  as 
a  subject  of  art,  and  there  are  large  numbers  of  pictures  which  re- 
late to  its  institution.  A  complete  rosary  has  one  hundred  and  fifty 
small  beads  and  fifteen  larger  ones.  The  latter  represent  the  Pater- 
nosters and  the  former  the  Ave-Marias.  The  large  beads  divide  the 
rosary  into  fifteen  decades,  each  one  consisting  of  ten  Ave-Marias, 
preceded  by  a  large  bead,  or  Pater-noster,  and  all  concluded  with  a 
Gloria  Patri.  Five  decades  make  a  chaplet,  which  is  a  third  part 
of  a  rosary.  To  these  beads  a  crucifix  is  added.  The  "  Mysteries  of 
the  Rosary,"  consist  in  the  assigning  of  a  certain  event  in  the  life 
of  the  Virgin,  or  in  the  life  of  the  Saviour  to  each  decade.  There 
are  five  joyful  mysteries,  which  are,  —  the  Annunciation,  the  Visita- 
tion, the  Nativity,  the  Purification,  and  Christ  found  in  the  Temple. 
Five  dolorous  or  sorrowful  mysteries :  Our  Lord  in  the  Garden  of 
Gethsemane,  the  Flagellation,  Christ  Crowned  with  Thorns,  the 
Procession  to  Calvary,  and  the  Crucifixion.  Five  glorious  mysteries  : 
the  Resurrection,  the  Ascension,  the  Descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
the  Assumption,  and  the  Coronation.  The  rosary  in  the  hand  or 
about  the  person  of  a  saint  signifies  that  they  obtained  aid  "  per 
intercessione  delP  Sacratissimo  Rosario."    When  held  before  the  Ma- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


271 


donna  it  indicates  that  by  the  use  of  it  she  is  to  be  propitiated ;  in 
short,  the  Rosary  was  intended  to  excite  and  assist  devotion  in  various 
ways,  and  its  representations  illustrate  the  same  idea.  Festival  of 
the  Rosary,  October  1. 

St.  Rufina.   See  St.  Justina  of  Seville. 

St.  Sabina,  to  whom  a  church  is  dedicated  at  Rome,  was  a  noble 
matron  who  suffered  martyrdom  during  the  reign  of  Hadrian.  The 
church,  which  dates  from  the  early  part  of  the  fifth  century,  is  said  to 
occupy  the  site  of  her  house,  and  the  altar-piece  represents  a  soldier 
dragging  the  saint  up  the  steps  of  a  temple,  with  a  sword  in  his 
hand.  With  her,  Seraphia,  a  Greek  slave,  who  had  converted  Sa- 
bina, was  also  executed.  Her  attribute  is  the  palm.  August  29, 
Second  century. 

Santa  Casa.  This  is  the  title  given  to  the  house  in  which  the 
Virgin  Mary  was  born  at  Nazareth.  According  to  the  legend  this 
house  was  threatened  with  profanation  or  destruction  at  the  time  of 
the  invasion  of  the  Saracens,  when  four  angels  took  it  and  bore  it 
over  sea  and  land  to  the  coast  of  Dalmatia ;  but  there  it  was  not 
safe,  and  the  angels  again  removed  it  to  a  spot  near  Loretto ;  but  here 
the  brigands  invaded  it,  and  it  was  again  removed  to  the  spot  where 
it  now  remains,  —  said  to  have  been  done  in  1295.  The  Madonna 
di  Loretto  is  represented  as  holding  the  Infant  Saviour,  and  seated 
upon  the  roof  of  a  house  which  is  borne  by  four  angels.  Loretto 
became  one  of  the  most  celebrated  places  of  pilgrimage,  and  many 
chapels  have  been  dedicated  to  Our  Lady  of  Loretto. 

St.  Scholastica.  Very  little  is  known  of  this  saint.  She  was  the 
sister  of  St.  Benedict,  and  followed  him  to  Monte  Cassino,  and  there 
gathered  about  her  a  small  community  of  nuns.  Benedict  visited 
her  but  once  each  year.  At  one  time  when  he  arose  to  take  leave 
of  her,  she  begged  him  to  remain  longer,  and  when  he  refused  she 
bent  her  head  and  prayed  that  God  would  interfere  to  detain  her 
brother  with  her.  Then  immediately  a  furious  storm  arose  and  he 
was  forced  to  remain  for  several  hours.  This  was  their  last  parting, 
for  two  days  after  St.  Scholastica  died,  and  Benedict  saw  her  soul 
ascend  to  heaven  in  the  form  of  a  dove,  while  he  was  praying  in  his 
cell.  She  is  represented  in  a  black  habit  with  a  dove  at  her  feet  oi 
pressed  to  her  bosom,  and  a  lily  in  her  hand.  February  10.  About 
543. 

St.  Sebald  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  among  the  early  Ger- 
man saints,  and  is  especially  venerated  in  Nuremberg.  The  legends 
relate  that  he  was  the  son  of  a  Danish  king,  and  left  England  with 
St.  Boniface.  His  name  in  English  is  Seward,  Siward,  or  Sigward. 
He  travelled  through  the  north  of  Germany,  preaching  as  a  mission- 
ary, and  at  last  lived  permanently  in  Nuremberg.  While  he  dwelt 
in  a  cell  not  far  from  the  city  he  went  there  almost  daily  to  teach 
the  poor.    He  was  in  the  habit  of  stopping  to  rest  in  the  hut  of  a 


272 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


cartwright.    One  day  when  it  was  very  cold  he  found  the  family  in 

the  hut  nearly  frozen,  and  they  had  no 
fuel.  Then  Sebald  commanded  them 
to  bring  in  the  icicles  which  hung  from 
the  roof  and  use  them  to  feed  the  fire. 
They  obeyed  and  were  thus  miracu- 
lously warmed.  Again  the  saint  de- 
sired fish  for  a  fast-day  and  sent  the 
same  cartwright  to  buy  it.  Now  the 
lord  of  Nuremberg  had  commanded 
that  no  person  should  buy  fish  until 
the  castle  was  supplied ;  so  the  poor 
man  was  punished  by  having  his  eyes 
put  out.  But  St.  Sebald  restored 
his  sight.  His  wonderful  shrine  in 
the  Church  at  Nuremberg  was  made, 
according  to  its  inscription,  by  Peter 
Yischer  and  his  five  sons.  These 
sons  with  their  families  all  dwelt 
with  the  father  Peter,  and  shared  alike 
his  labors,  his  rewards,  and  his  fame. 
It  was  commenced  in  1508  and  has 
remained  undisturbed.  He  is  repre- 
sented in  his  statue  by  Peter  Yischer 
as  a  pilgrim  with  shell  in  hat,  rosary, 
staff,  and  wallet.  He  holds  in  his 
hand  a  model  of  his  church.  About 
A.  D.  770. 

St.  Sebastian  (Lat.  Sanctus  Se- 
bastianus ;  ItaL  San  Sebastiano  or 
Bastiano  ;  Fr.  St.  S6bastien ;  Sp,  and 
Ger.  Sebastian).  The  legend  of  this 
saint,  though  very  old,  has  the  ad- 
vantage of  being  better  authenticated 
by  history  than  many  antique  traditions.  Sebastian  was  descended 
from  a  noble  family  which  had  been  honored  with  high  ofiices 
in  the  empire.  He  was  born  at  Narbonne,  and  when  still  quite 
young  was  made  commander  of  a  company  of  the  Preetorian 
Guards,  and  was  thus  always  near  the  emperor,  Diocletian,  with 
whom  he  was  an  especial  favorite.  Now  Sebastian  was  secretly 
a  Christian,  and  while  from  this  very  fact  he  conscientiously  ful- 
filled all  his  duties  to  the  emperor,  he  also  protected  the  Christians, 
and  endeavored  to  make  converts ;  and  in  this  last  he  was  very  suc- 
cessful. Among  those  whom  he  had  thus  influenced  were  two 
young  soldiers,  of  noble  family,  called  Marcus  and  Marcellinus. 
They  were  accused  as  Christians  and  condemned  to  the  torture ;  this 


(Nuremberg  Statue.    Peter  Yischer). 
St.  Sebald. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


273 


they  firmly  endured  and  were  led  out  for  execution.  Then  their 
families,  their  wives  and  children,  besought  them  to  recant  and  live. 
That  which  the  tortures  could  not  effect,  these  prayers  and  tears 
were  about  to  do,  —  they  wavered ;  then  Sebastian,  regardless  of  him- 
self, rushed  forward  and  eloquently  exhorted  them,  that  they  should 
not  betray  their  Redeemer.  So  earnest  was  he,  and  so  great  was  his 
power,  that  the  two  soldiers  went  boldly  to  their  death,  while  their 
friends,  many  of  the  guards,  and  even  the  judge  himself,  were  also 
converted  and  secretly  baptized.  Now  Sebastian's  time  had  come ; 
but  before  his  public  accusation,  the  emperor  so  loved  him,  that  he 
sent  for  him  to  see  if  privately  he  could  not  influence  him  to  save 
his  life.  And  he  said,  "  Have  I  not  always  honored  thee  above  the 
rest  of  my  officers  ?  Why  hast  thou  disobeyed  my  commands,  and 
insulted  my  gods  ?  "  Then  answered  the  young  saint,  with  courage, 
but  also  with  meekness,  O  Caesar,  I  have  ever  prayed,  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ,  for  thy  prosperity,  and  have  been  true  to  thy  ser- 
vice ;  but  as  for  the  gods  whom  thou  wouldst  have  me  worsliip,  they 
are  devils,  or,  at  best,  idols  of  wood  and  stone."  After  this,  Diocle- 
tian ordered  that  Sebastian  should  be  bound  to  a  stake,  and  shot  to 
death  with  arrows,  but  that  it  should  be  inscribed  on  the  stake,  that 
he  had  no  fault  but  that  of  being  a  Christian.  Then  the  archers  did 
their  duty,  and  he  was  left  for  dead,  being  pierced  with  many  ar- 
rows. At  night,  Irene,  the  widow  of  one  of  his  friends  who  had 
been  martyred,  came  with  her  companions  to  take  his  body  away  to 
burial.  And  lo !  it  was  found  that  he  was  still  alive,  for  none  of 
the  arrows  had  entered  a  vital  part.  Then  Irene  took  him  home, 
and  carefully  tended  him  until  he  was  well  again.  When  his 
friends  saw  him  they  begged  that  he  would  fly  from  Rome  and  save 
his  life ;  but  Sebastian  went  to  the  palace  and  stood  where  he  knew 
the  emperor  must  surely  see  him,  and  he  plead  for  certain  con- 
demned ones,  and  plainly  told  the  emperor  of  his  cruelty  and  wicked- 
ness. Then  Diocletian,  being  amazed,  exclaimed,  "  Art  thou  not 
Sebastian  ?  "  And  he  said,  "  I  am  Sebastian,  whom  God  hath  de- 
livered from  thy  hand,  that  I  might  testify  to  the  faith  of  Jesus 
Christ  and  plead  for  his  servants."  Then  was  Diocletian  doubly  in- 
furiated ;  and  he  commanded  that  Sebastian  should  be  taken  to  the 
circus  and  beaten  to  death  with  clubs,  and  his  body  thrown  into  the 
Cloaca  Maxima,  and  thus  hidden  from  his  friends.  But  in  spite  of 
all  this,  a  lady  named  Lucina,  who  was  a  Christian,  found  means  to 
obtain  his  remains  and  they  were  laid  with  reverent  care  in  the  Cat- 
acombs at  the  feet  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.  Apollo  was  the 
heathen  god  whom  it  was  believed  afflicted  men  by  the  plague ; 
and  he  it  was  whom  men  invoked  against  it,  and  the  arrow  was  the 
emblem  of  pestilence.  It  would  seem  that  from  the  association  of 
the  arrow  with  St.  Sebastian  must  have  arisen  the  belief  that  he 
was  especially  powerful  to  grant  aid  against  this  curse ;  for  there 
18 


274 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


are,  according  to  tradition,  many  cities  which  have  been  thus  saved 
by  his  intercession.  A  century  after  the  great  plague  in  the 
time  of  Gregory  the  Great,  another  fearful  pestilence  ravaged  Rome. 
In  the  Church  of  San  Pietro-in-Vincoli  is  an  ancient  mosaic  of  St. 
Sebastian,  and  on  a  tablet  the  following  inscription  in  Latin :  To 
St.  Sebastian,  Martyr,  dispeller  of  the  pestilence.  In  the  year  of 
salvation,  680,  a  pernicious  and  severe  pestilence  invaded  the  city 
of  Rome.  It  was  of  three  months'  duration,  July,  August,  and  Sep- 
tember. Such  was  the  multitude  of  the  dead,  that,  on  the  same 
bier,  parents  and  children,  husbands  and  wives,  with  brothers  and 
sisters,  were  borne  out  to  burial-places,  which,  everywhere  filled  with 
bodies,  hardly  sufficed.  In  addition  to  this,  nocturnal  miracles 
alarmed  them  ;  for  two  angels,  one  good  and  the  other  evil,  went 
through  the  city  ;  and  this  last,  bearing  a  rod  in  his  hand,  as  many 
times  as  he  struck  the  doors  so  many  mortals  fell  in  those  houses. 
The  disease  spread  for  a  length  of  time,  until  it  was  announced  to  a 
holy  man,  that  there  would  be  an  end  of  the  calamity,  if,  in  the 
Church  of  S.  Peter  ad  Vincula,  an  altar  should  be  consecrated  to 
Sebastian  the  Martyr  ;  which  thing  being  done  immediately,  the 
pestilence,  as  if  driven  back  by  hand,  was  commanded  to  cease." 
From  this  time  Sebastian  became  the  universal  patron  against  pes- 
tilence, which  honor  has  been  shared  in  later  years  by  St.  Roch. 
The  pictures  of  St.  Sebastian 
are  innumerable  and  unmistaka- 
ble. He  is  young,  beautiful, 
without  drapery,  bound  to  a  tree, 
and  pierced  by  arrows.  He  looks 
to  heaven,  from  whence  descends 
an  angel  with  palm  and  crown. 
He  is  the  favorite  saint  of  Ro- 
man women  and  indeed  of 
women  of  all  Italy.  January  20, 
A.  D.  288. 

St.  Secundus,  especially  ven- 
erated at  Asti,  is  one  of  the 
saints  of  the  Theban  legion.  See 
St.  Maurice. 

Seven  Joys,  The,  and  The 
Seven  Sorrows  of  the  Bles- 
sed Virgin,  are  often  repre- 
sented in  series  of  pictures. 
The  subjects  of  the  seven  joys 
are, — (1.)  The  Annunciation. 
(2.)  The  Visitation.  (3.)  The 
Adoration  of  the  Magi.  (4.)  The  Presentation  in  the  Temple.  (5.) 
Christ  found  by  Mary,  disputing  with  the  Doctors.  (6.)  The  Assump- 


Notre  Dame  des  Sept  Douleurs. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


275 


tion.  (7.)  The  Coronation.  The  seven  sorrows  represent,  (1.)  The 
Prophecy  of  Simeon.  (2.)  The  Flight  into  Egypt.  (3.)  Christ  lost 
by  his  mother.  (4.)  The  Betrayal  of  Christ.  (5.)  Tlie  Crucifixion, 
(St.  John  and  the  Virgin  only  present).  (6.)  The  Deposition  from 
the  cross.  (7.)  Ascension  of  Christ,  leaving  Mary  on  earth. 

Seven  Sleepers  of  Ephesus,  The  {Hal.  I  Sette  Dormienti ; 
Fr.  Les  Sept  Dormants,  Les  Sept  Enfants  d'Eph^se ;  Ger,  Die 
Sieben  Schlafer).  This  tradition  is  of  great  antiquity.  Gibbon 
says  it  can  be  traced  to  within  fifty  years  of  the  time  of  the  miracle 
it  relates.  There  is  scarcely  a  written  tongue  in  which  it.  is  not 
found.  Syriac,  Latin,  and  Scandinavian  relate  it,  and  the  writer 
of  the  Koran  has  given  it  a  place.  In  the  time  of  the  persecution 
of  Decius  there  dwelt  in  Ephesus  seven  young  men  who  were  Chris- 
tians. Their  names  were  Maximian,  Malchus,  Marcian,  Dionysius, 
John,  Serapion,  and  Constantine.  Having  refused  to  offer  sacrifice 
to  the  gods  they  were  accused  before  the  tribunal.  They  fled  to 
Mount  Coelian  and  hid  in  a  cave.  They  were  pursued  and  dis- 
covered. Then  it  was  ordered  that  great  stones  should  be  rolled 
against  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  and  they  should  thus  be  left  to  die 
of  starvation.  They  resigned  themselves  to  this  dreadful  fate,  and 
embracing  each  other  went  to  sleep.  Time  passed  on  until  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety-six  years  had  passed.  Then,  in  the  reign  of  Theodo- 
sius,  a  heresy  arose  denying  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  The  Em- 
peror, greatly  afflicted  at  this,  retired  to  his  palace  and  dressed  himself 
in  sackcloth  and  sprinkled  ashes  on  his  head.  And  God  for  his  sake 
restored  these  seven  sleepers.  For  a  certain  man  of  Ephesus  went  to 
Mount  Coelian  to  build  him  a  stable,  and  he  discovered  this  cavern  and 
rolled  the  stones  away.  Wli^en  the  light  entered  there,  the  sleepers 
awoke,  and  thought  they  had  slept  but  for  a  night.  Then  it  was  deter- 
mined that  Malchus  should  venture  into  Ephesus  to  obtain  food.  He 
went  with  fear  and  caution,  and  was  surprised  to  find  the  gates  of  the 
city  surmounted  by  crosses.  Then  when  he  entered  within  the  walls 
he  heard  the  name  of  Christ,  which  he  had  been  accustomed  to  sigh 
forth  only  with  his  breath,  boldly  spoken  everywhere.  He  believed 
himself  in  a  dream.  He  entered  a  baker's  shop,  and  in  payment  for 
his  loaf  he  offered  a  coin  of  the  time  of  Decius.  He  was  regarded 
with  great  astonishment,  and  suspected  of  having  robbed  some  hidden 
treasure.  When  accused  he  knew  not  what  to  say,  and  he  was  dragged 
to  the  bishop  with  contumely  and  reproaches.  When  the  bishop  had 
talked  with  him  the  truth  was  discovered.  Then  went  out  the  em- 
peror, the  governor,  the  bishop,  and  hosts  of  the  people,  and  the  six 
other  sleepers  were  found  in  the  cave.  Then  when  the  emperor  was 
come,  one  of  them  said,  Believe  in  us,  O  Emperor  !  for  we  hate  been 
raised  before  the  Day  of  Judgment,  in  order  that  thou  mightest 
trust  in  the  resurrection  of  the  dead  ! "  Then  they  all  bowed  their 
heads  and  gave  up  the  ghost.    Representations  of  this  legend  are 


276 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


very  common  among  works  of  art  of  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth 
century,  in  glass,  miniatures,  and  sculpture.  They  are  usually  ex- 
tended in  their  cave  side  by  side.  Their  names  are  inscribed  above 
their  heads  and  they  have  the  martyr's  palm.    June  27. 

Sibyls,  The  were  prophetesses,  who  foretold  the  coming  of  Christ 
to  the  Gentiles  as  the  prophets  did  to  the  Jews.  They  are  in  the 
art  of  the  Latin  Church  what  the  sages  of  antiquity  were  to  the 
Greeks,  and  are  in  fact  a  kind  of  witnesses  to  the  truth  of  Chris- 
tianity. It  may  be  shown  that  the  Church  accepted  the  witness  of 
the  sibyls  by  an  extract  from  the  hymn  Dies  Irae,"  said  to  have 
been  written  by  Pope  Innocent  III.  It  is  translated  thus  in  the 
English  version  of  the  Missal:  — 

The  dreadful  day,  the  day  of  ire, 
Shall  kindle  the  avenging  fire 

Around  the  expiring  world. 
And  Earth  as  Sibyl  said  of  old, 
And  as  the  prophet  king  foretold^ 

Shall  be  in  ruin  hurled." 

Their  origin  was  obscure ;  they  were  regarded  as  holy  virgins,  who 
lived  in  caves  and  grottoes.  They  were  believed  to  have  the  power 
to  read  the  future,  and  were  interrogated  by  their  votaries  upon  im- 
portant matters,  and  their  answers  were  considered  authoritative. 
Yarro,  who  wrote  about  one  hundred  years  B.  c,  gives  their  number 
as  ten,  and  their  names  as  taken  from  the  localities  of  their  habita- 
tions :  The  Sibylla  Persica  from  Persia ;  the  Sibylla  Libyca  from 
Libya ;  the  Sibylla  Delphica  from  Delphi ;  the  Sibylla  Erythr^ea 
from  Erythraea  ;  the  Sybilla  Cumana  from  Cumag  ;  the  Sibylla  Samia 
from  Samos ;  the  Sibylla  Cimmeria  from  the  Black  Sea  ;  the  Si- 
bylla Tiburtina  from  Tivoli ;  the  Sibylla  Hellespontina  from  the 
Hellespont ;  the  Sibylla  Phrygia  from  Phrygia.  Two  others 
called  the  Agrippa  or  the  Hebraica,  and  the  Europa  were  added  in 
later  times,  as  well  as  others  seldom  referred  to.  Sometimes  the 
Queen  of  Sheba  is  represented  as  one  of  these  wonderful  beings. 
There  have  been  serious  disagreements  in  the  opinions  of  the  Church 
regarding  the  sibyls  and  the  worth  of  their  prophecies.  Some  of 
the  early  fathers  considered  them  as  agents  of  Beelzebub,  while 
others,  including  St.  Jerome  and  St.  Augustine,  believed  them  to  be 
inspired  of  God.  The  two  most  interesting  traditions  of  the  sibyls 
in  this  connection  are  those  of  the  Cumaean  and  Tiburtine  Sibyls 
who  appeared  to  King  Tarquin  and  the  Emperor  Augustus.  The 
first,  the  Cumaean,  presented  herself  to  Tarquin  with  nine  books 
which  she  desired  to  sell  him.  They  contained  Sibylline  Oracles. 
Tarquiti  refused  her  request.  She  went  away  and  burned  three  of 
them  and  returned  with  six.  Again  he  refused ;  again  she  burned 
three,  and  again  returned  with  the  three  remaining.  Then  Tar- 
quin sought  the  advice  of  the  soothsayers,  and  they  assured  him  that 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


Til 


the  destinies  of  the  world  depended  upon  the  preservation  of  these 
oracles.  So  they  were  bought,  and  for  centuries  after  were  consulted 
on  all  great  emergencies  of  the  Roman  nation.  They  were  preserved 
in  the  Capitol  under  the  care  of  priests,  but  during  the  wars  of  Ma- 
rius  and  Sylla  they  perished.    Then  messengers  were  sent  far  and 


(Baldassare  Peruzzi.)    Prophecy  of  the  Sibyl. 


wide  all  through  the  empire  to  collect  the  scattered  Sibylline  leaves, 
and  as  many  as  were  found  were  again  carefully  preserved.  The 
idea  of  the  ancient  Romans,  as  recorded  by  Tacitus  and  Suetonius, 
that  those  who  should  rule  the  world  should  come  out  from  Judaea, 
is  believed  to  have  been  derived  from  these  Sibylline  leaves.  Again, 
when  the  Roman  Senate  decreed  divine  honors  to  Augustus,  he  con- 
sulted the  Tiburtine  Sibyl  whether  he  ought  to  receive  them.  She 
replied  that  it  was  more  becoming  for  him  whose  power  was  declin- 
ing to  go  away  from  her  silently,  for  a  Hebrew  child  should  be  born 


278 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


who  should  reign  over  the  gods  themselves.  Or,  that  a  king  should 
come  from  heaven  whose  kingdom  should  never  end.  Another  ver- 
sion relates  that  the  heavens  were  opened  and  a  vision  of  the  Vir- 
gin with  the  Infant  Saviour  in  her  arms,  standing  on  an  altar,  was 
shown  him,  and  a  voice  was  heard  saying,  "  Haec  ara  filii  Dei " 
(This  is  the  altar  of  the  Son  of  God).  The  emperor  adored  the 
vision  and  reported  it  to  the  Senate.  And  in  remembrance  of  it  he 
erected  upon  the  Capitol  an  altar  inscribed,  "  Ara  primogeniti  Dei.** 
On  this  spot  stands  the  Church  of  S.  Maria  in  Capitolio,  or  the  "  Ara 
cseli."  A  passage  of  Virgil,  who  wrote  forty  years  B.  c,  is  also 
quoted  as  proving  that  the  advent  of  Christ  was  foretold  in  Sibylline 
prophecy.  It  is  thus  translated :  "  The  last  age  of  the  Cumaean 
song  now  approaches ;  the  great  series  of  ages  begins  again ;  now 
returns  the  Virgin  (Astra^a),  now  return  the  Saturnian  kingdoms, 
now  a  new  progeny  is  sent  from  high  heaven.  Be  but  projDitious, 
chaste  Lucina,  to  the  boy  at  his  birth,  through  whom  the  iron  age 
will  first  cease,  and  the  golden  age  dawn  on  the  whole  world."  The 
Sibyls  do  not  appear  in  the  earliest  art.  They  were  not  represented 
in  the  Catacombs.  In  the  fourteenth  century  the  vision  of  Augus- 
tus was  employed  as  a  symbol  of  the  appearing  of  the  star  to  the 
Magi,  or  .the  manifestation  of  Christ  to  the  Gentiles.  They  were 
employed  in  the  cyclical  decorations  of  churches  with  the  prophets. 
Often  they  were  about  the  principal  entrance,  or  if  inside  near  the 
door ;  their  position  being  typical  of  their  having  been  "  forerun- 
ners of  the  Lord."  Their  number  varies.  In  the  Eastern  Church 
there  is  but  one  la  sage  Sihylle''  They  should  be  recognized  by 
their  scrolls,  but  the  inscriptions  have  been  so  varied  that  they  are 
not  always  guides.  The  sibyls  of  Michael  Angelo  on  the  ceiling  of 
the  Sistine  Chapel  are  too  well  known  to  need  any  description,  and 
it  has  been  said  that  these  representations  are  "  the  highest  honor 
that  art  has  rendered  to  the  sibyls."  Their  various  attributes,  dress, 
and  age,  as  nearly  as  it  is  possible  to  give  them,  are  as  follows  :  — 

The  Sibylla  Persica  was  supposed  to  be  a  daughter-in-law  of 
Moses.  She  predicted  the  coming  of  the  Messiah.  She  is  old,  and 
her  attributes  are  a  serpent  beneath  her  feet,  and  a  lantern  in  her 
hand. 

The  Sibylla  Libyca  prophesied  the  manifestation  of  Christ  to  the 
Gentiles.     She  is  twenty-four  years  old,  and  bears  a  lighted  torch. 

The  Sibylla  Erythrcea  is  the  prophetess  of  Divine  vengence.  She 
predicted  the  Trojan  War ;  in  this  character  she  holds  a  naked 
sword.  But  it  is  also  said  that  she  foretold  the  Annunciation,  and 
in  this  representation  she  has  a  white  rose.     She  is  old. 

The  Sibylla  Delphica,  her  attributes  are  a  horn  or  the  crown  of 
thorns. 

The  Sibylla  Samia,  attributes  a  reed  or  a  cradle.  She  lived,  it  is 
supposed,  in  the  time  of  Isaiah. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


279 


The  Sibylla  Cimmeria  prophesied  the  Crucifixion.  She  is  eigh- 
teen years  old,  and  has  a  cross  or  crucifix. 

The  Sibylla  Cumana  is  fifteen  years  old,  and  her  attribute  is  a 
manger,  having  foreseen  the  Nativity  in  a  stable. 

The  Sibylla  Hellespontina  prophesied  the  Incarnation,  and  also  the 
Crucifixion.    Her  attributes  are  the  crucifix  and  a  budding  rod. 

The  Sibylla  Phrygia  prophesied  the  Resurrection.  Attributes,  i 
banner  and  cross. 

The  Sibylla  Tiburtina  symbolizes  the  mocking  and  the  flagella- 
tion of  Christ.     She  is  dressed  in  skins  and  bears  a  rod. 

The  Sibylla  A  grippa.    Attribute,  a  scourge ;  fifteen  years  old. 

The  Sibylla  Europa  prophesied  the  Massacre  of  the  Innocents. 
Attribute  a  sword,  fifteen 
years  old.  Sometimes  all  the 
Sibyls  have  books  in  which 
they  read ;  or  they  bear 
torches  or  lanterns  ;  and  some 
have  a  sun  on  the  head. 

St.  Sigismond  of  Bur- 
gundy (Ital.  San  Gismondo) 
was  the  son  of  Gondubald 
and  the  cousin  of  St.  Clotilda, 
wife  of  Clovis,  King  of  France. 
Gondubald,  was  an  Arian,  and 
had  murdered  the  parents  of 
Clotilda.  Sigismond  was  a 
Catholic,  and  though  greatly 
distinguished  for  his  piety,  he 
put  to  death  his  eldest  son  on 
the  accusation  of  his  second 
wife,  who  hated  and  falsely 
accused  the  son  of  her  prede- 
cessor. But  Sigismond  was 
seized  with  remorse,  and  sorely 
repented  his  crime .  He  prayed 
that  his  deserved  punishment 
might  be  inflicted  in  this  world 
rather  than  the  next ;  and  his 
prayer  was  granted,  for  the 
sons  of  Clotilda  invaded  his 
kingdom,  took  him  prisoner, 
and  finally,  in  revenge  of  the 
death  of  their  grandparents, 
they    murdered  Sigismond. 


St.  Sigismond. 


His  body  was  thrown  into  a  well,  but  was  at  length  removed  to  the  con- 
vent of  St.  Maurice.    In  a  chapel  dedicated  to  St.  Sigismond  in  Cre- 


280 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


mona,  Francesco  Sforza  was  married  to  Bianca  Visconti,  and  in  witness 
of  his  love  and  gratitude  he  adorned  this  chapel  with  great  beauty. 
St.  Sigismond  is  represented  in  the  splendid  altar-piece,  by  Giulio 
Campi.    He  is  patron  saint  of  Cremona.    May  1,  a.  d.  525. 

Simeon,  The  Prophet.  See  the  Madonna.  The  Presentation 
in  the  Temple. 

St.  Simon  Zelotes,  or  the  Zealot ;  St.  Jude,  Thaddeus  or 
Lebbeus  {Ital.  San  Simone,  San  Taddeo ;  Fi\  St.  Simon  le 
Zele,  St.  Thaddee;  Ger.  Judas,  Thaddaus).  The  contradictions 
concerning  these  saints  render  it  impossible  to  give  any  clear  ac- 
count of  them.  One  tradition  teaches  that  they  were  mentioned 
as  brethren  or  kinsmen  of  Jesus  by  Matthew.  Another  that  they 
were  two  brothers  who  were  among  the  shepherds  to  whom  the 
birth  of  Jesus  was  revealed.  There  is  but  one  point  of  agree- 
ment concerning  them.  That  is,  that  they  preached  the  Gospel 
in  Syria  and  Mesopotamia,  and  were  martyred  in  Persia ;  but  in 
what  manner  is  not  known,  although  it  is  believed  that  St.  Si- 
mon was  sawn  asunder,  and  St.  Jude  killed  with  a  halberd.  They 
therefore  bear  tfee  saw  and  halberd  as  their  attributes.  They  are 
sometimes  represented  as  young,  and  again  as  old,  according  to  which 
tradition  the  artist  follows.  In  Greek  art,  Jude  and  Thaddeus  are 
different  persons,  Jude  being  young  and  Thaddeus  old.  They  have 
rarely  been  represented  as  members  of  the  Sacra  Famiglia,  and  when 
so  introduced  have  their  names  in  the  glories  about  their  heads. 
May  1. 

St.  Siro,  or  Syr  US,  whose  statue  is  in  the  Cathedral  of  Pavia,  was 
first  bishop  of  that  city  and  governed  the  church  fifty-six  years.  His 
effigy  appears  on  the  coins  of  Pavia. 

The  "  Spalatro,"  or  the  Vision  of  the  Bloody  Hand,  is  a 

picture  painted  by  Washington  AUston,  in  illustration  of  a  scene  from 
"  The  Italian,"  by  Mrs.  Kadcliffe  ;  the  story  of  which  book  is  as  fol- 
lows :  Yincentio  di  Vivaldi,  the  only  son  of  the  oldest  and  one  of 
the  most  noble  Neapolitan  families,  was  determined  upon  marrying 
Ellena  E-osalba,  a  lovely  girl,  and  every  way  worthy  of  his  admira- 
tion, but  his  inferior  in  rank.  The  Marchesa  di  Vivaldi,  an  ambi- 
tious and  heartless  woman,  was  resolved  to  prevent  this  union  at  all 
hazards.  She  had  for  her  confessor  a  monk  called  Father  Schedoni, 
whose  early  life  had  been  so  fearful  in  its  wickedness  as  to  render 
him  a  fitting  instrument  for  any  crime.  He  too,  was  ambitious,  and 
in  consideration  of  a  church  preferment  which  the  Marchesa  coul( 
obtain  for  him,  he  promised  to  render  her  son's  marriage  impossible 
by  destroying  Ellena.  For  this  purpose  he  employed  Spalatro,  a 
man  of  many  crimes  who  had  before  served  Schedoni  as  an  assassin. 
Ellena  was  seized  and  conveyed  secretly  to  the  house  of  Spalatro,  in 
a  lonely  situation  by  the  sea,  and  at  night  Schedoni  and  Spalatro 
proceeded  towards  her  apartment  to   accomplish   their  dreadful 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


281 


designs.  The  beauty  and  innocence  of  Ellena  had  already  softened 
the  heart  of  the  assassin,  and  as  he  contemplates  this  new  crime,  all 
those  of  his  past  life  rise  before  him,  and  Macbeth-like  he  imagines 
that  he  sees  a  vision  of  a  bloody  hand  beckoning  him  on  to  this  new 
horror.  He  is  seized  with  uncontrollable  agony  and  fear.  This  is 
the  moment  represented  by  the  artist,  and  this  the  word-picture  of 
the  scene  :    "At  the  foot  of  the  staircase  he  again  stopped  to  listen. 

*  Do  you  hear  anything  ?  '  said  he  in  a  whisper.  *  I  hear  only  the 
sea, '  replied  the  man.  '  Hush  !  it  is  something  more,'  said  Sche- 
doni ;  '  that  is  the  murmur  of  voices.  '  They  were  silent.  After  a 
pause  of  some  length,  'It  is,  perhaps,  the  voice  of  the  spectres  I 
told  you  of,  Signor,*  said  Spalatro,  with  a  sneer.  '  Give  me  the  dag- 
ger,' said  Schedoni.  Spalatro  instead  of  obeying  now  grasped  the 
arms  of  the  confessor,  who  looking  at  him  for  an  explanation  of  this 
extraordinary  action,  was  still  more  surprised  to  observe  the  paleness 
and  horror  of  his  countenance.  His  starting  eyes  seemed  to  follow 
some  object  along  the  passage,  and  Schedoni,  who  began  to  partake 
of  his  feelings,  looked  forward  to  discover  what  occasioned  this  dismay, 
but  could  not  perceive  anything  that  justified  it.  '  What  is  it  you 
fear  ?  '  said  he  at  length.  Spalatro's  eyes  were  still  moving  in  hor- 
ror. '  Do  you  see  nothing  ?  '  said  he  pointing.  Schedoni  looked 
again,  but  did  not  distinguish  any  object  in  the  remote  gloom  of  the 
passage  whither  Spalatro's  gaze  was  now  fixed.  '  Come,  come,'  said 
he,  ashamed  of  his  own  weakness,  '  this  is  not  the  moment  for  such 
fancies.  Awake  from  this  idle  dream.'  Spalatro  withdrew  his  eyes, 
but  they  retained  all  their  wildness.  '  It  was  no  dream,'  said  he,  in 
the  voice  of  a  man  who  is  exhausted  by  pain  and  begins  to  breathe 
somewhat  more  freely  again.  '  I  saw  it  as  plainly  as  I  now  see  you.*' 
'  Dotard  !  what  did  you  see  ? '  inquired  the  confessor.  '  It  came 
before  my  eyes  in  a  moment,  and  showed  itself  distinctly  and  out- 
spread.' 'What  showed  itself  ?  '  repeate^d  Schedoni.  '  And  then  it 
beckoned,  yes,  it  beckoned  me,  with  that  blood-stained  finger !  and 
glided  away  doAvn  the  passage,  still  beckoning,  till  it  was  lost  in  the 
darkness.'   '  This  is  very  frenzy  ! '  said  Schedoni,  excessively  agitated. 

*  Arouse  yourself  and  be  a  man.'  '  Frenzy  !  would  it  were,  Signor, 
I  saw  that  dreadful  hand.  I  see  it  now  ;  it  is  there  again  !  there  ! ' 
The  representation  of  the  lonely  corridor,  the  horror  and  fright  of 
the  remorse-crazed  villain,  and  the  stern  determination  of  the  cold- 
hearted  monk  is  most  powerful  and  true  to  nature.  The  chiaro- 
scvLvo  effect  of  light  and  shade  and  the  whole  coloring  of  the  picture, 
is  such  as  must  command  the  admiration  of  the  artist,  and  sensibly 
impress  the  less  critical  observer.  [This  picture  is  now  the  posses- 
sion of  Mr.  John  Taylor  Johnston  of  New  York,  and  makes  one  of 
the  attractions  of  his  rich  and  elegant  art  gallery.  His  generous 
kindness  in  allowing  an  engraving  of  it  to  be  made,  has  enabled  me 
to  give  my  readers  an  idea  of  this  gem  of  American  art.] 


282 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


St.  Stanislas  Kotzka,  a  young  Polish  nobleman,  was  among 
the  earliest  converts  of  the  Jesuits.  He  was  distinguished  for  his 
piety  as  a  child.  His  mother  educated  him  until  he  was  fourteen, 
when  he  went  to  Vienna.  He  entered  the  Society  of  Jesus  through 
the  influence  of  Francis  Borgia.  He  died  at  Rome  when  but  seven- 
teen. It  is  said  that  he  fell  sick  at  Vienna,  and  an  angel  brought  to 
him  the  Eucharist  on  account  of  his  being  in  the  house  of  a  Protes- 
tant. He  is  represented  in  art  on  a  couch  with  an  angel  at  his  side. 
He  is  one  of  the  patron  saints  of  Poland,  and  as  such  his  attribute  is 
the  lily.    November  13,  a.  d.  1589. 

St.  Stephen,  Proto-martyr  {Lat.  S.  Stephanus  ;  ItaL  San  Stefano  ; 

Fr.  St.  Etienne  ;  Ger.  Der  Heilige 
Stefan).  Little  has  been  added 
to  the  Scripture  account  of  this 
holy  deacon  by  tradition  or  the 
fancy  of  his  votaries.  His  name 
is  significant  of  faith,  devotion,  zeal, 
and  enduring  love ;  it  commands 
the  veneration  of  the  world,  stand- 
ing as  it  does  at  the  head  of  the 
great  and  "  noble  army  of  mar- 
tyrs." He  was  chosen  deacon 
during  the  first  ministry  of  Peter, 
and  did  great  wonders  and  mira- 
cles. He  was  falsely  accused  of 
speaking  blasphemously  of  the 
Temple  and  the  Jewish  law.  For 
this  he  was  condemned  to  death, 
and  stoned  by  the  people  outside  of 
the  gate  at  Jerusalem,  now  called 
by  his  name.  The  legend  concern- 
ing; his  relics  relates,  that  it  was 
not  known  for  four  hundred  years 
what  had  become  of  his  body. 
Then  a  certain  priest  of  Carsaga- 
mala  in  Palestine,  named  Lucian, 
had  a  vision  in  which  Gamaliel,  the 
same  who  had  instructed  Paul  in 
all  the  learning  of  the  Jews,  ap- 
peared to  him,  and  revealed  the 
burying-place  of  Stephen.  Ga- 
maliel himself  had  taken  up  the 
body  and  had  placed  it  in  his  own 
sepulchre,  where  he  also  interred 
Nicodemus  and  other  holy  men 
vision  was  repeated  a  second  and 


(V.  Oarpaccio.)    St.  Stephen. 

and  saints.     This  dream  or 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


283 


third  time.  Then  Lucian,  with  the  sanction  of  the  bishop,  dug 
in  a  garden  that  had  been  pointed  out,  and  found  the  relics  of 
St.  Stephen,  and  their  wonderful  sanctity  was  proved  hj  many 
miracles.  They  were  first  placed  in  the  Church  of  Sion  at  Jerusa- 
lem ;  then  carried  by  Theodosius  to  Constantinople ;  and  lastly  by 
Pope  Pelagius  to  Eome,  where  they  were  deposited  in  the  same 
tomb  with  St.  Laurence.  The  legend  adds  that  when  the  sarcoph- 
agus was  opened  to  receive  these  sacred  remains,  St.  Laurence 
moved  to  the  left,  thus  giving  the  honorable  right  hand  to  St. 
Stephen.  On  this  account  St.  Laurence  is  called  by  the  populace 
of  Rome,  "  II  cortese  Spagnuolo,"  "  The  courteous  Spaniard."  St. 
Stephen  is  represented  as  young  and  beardless,  in  the  dress  of  a 
deacon.  The  dalmatica  is  square  and  straight  at  the  bottom,  with 
large  sleeves  and  heavy  gold  tassels  hanging  from  the  shoulders ;  it 
is  crimson  and  richly  embroidered.  He  has  the  palm  almost  always, 
and  the  stones  are  his  special  attribute,  and  when  given  to  him  it  is 
impossible  to  mistake  him  ;  but  when  they  are  left  out  he  is  like  St. 
Vincent.    December  26. 

St.  Stephen  of  Hungary  was  the  son  of  Duke  Geysa.  His 
father  and  mother  were  baptized  late  in  life  by  St.  Adelbert  the  Nor- 
thumbrian missionary.  They  gave  their  son  the  name  of  the  Proto- 
martyr.  Stephen  was  thus  the  first  Christian  king  of  Hungary.  He 
found  his  country  in  ignorance  and  heathenism  ;  he  not  only  Christian- 
ized it,  but  he  subdued  other  pagan  nations  about  him  and  brought 
them  also  into  the  Church.  He  sent  to  Eome  requesting  the  pope  to 
grant  him  the  title  of  king  and  to  give  him  his  benediction.  The 
pope  sent  him  a  crown,  and  a  cross  to  be  borne  before  his  army. 
Maria  Theresa  was  crowned  with  this  diadem,  which  was  preserved 
at  Presburg.  St.  Stephen  married  the  sister  of  St.  Henry,  called 
Gisela.  No  child  survived  him,  and  his  son  St.  Emeric  is  associated 
with  him  in  the  veneration  of  the  Hungarians.  He  is  represented  in 
armor  with  his  crown.  As  apostle  of  Hungary  he  bears  the  standard 
with  the  cross  and  the  sword.     September  2,  A.  d.  1038. 

Sudarium.    See  St.  Veronica. 

St.  Susanna  was  the  daughter  of  Gabinius,  brother  of  Pope 
Caius,  and  nearly  related  to  the  Emperor  Diocletian.  She  was 
remarkable  for  her  beauty,  but  more  so  for  her  learning.  Diocletian 
desired  her  as  a  wife  for  his  adopted  son  Maximus.  She  had  made 
a  vow  of  chastity,  and  refused  even  these  tempting  oflTers.  Then 
Diocletian  desired  his  empress,  Serena,  to  try  her  influence  with  the 
maiden.  But  Serena  was  herself  a  Christian,  and  sympathized  with 
Susanna  in  her  determination.  At  length  Diocletian  became  exas- 
perated at  her  obstinate  firmness,  and  sent  an  executioner  who  killed 
her  in  her  own  house.  Her  attributes  are  the  sword  and  palm. 
August  11,  A.  B.  290. 

Susanna.    The  illustrations  of  the  apocryphal  history  of  Susanna, 


284 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


are  often  seen  among  works  of  art ;  indeed,  "  Susanna  at  tlie  Bath  "  is 
seen  at  least  once  in  almost  every  picture  gallery  of  any  size.  She 
was  of  Babylon,  the  daughter  of  Chelcias,  and  of  exceeding  beauty. 
She  was  married  to  Joacim,  a  very  rich  man,  and  greatly  respected ; 
and  unto  his  house  all  the  Jews  resorted.  There  was  a  fair  garden 
adjoining  this  house,  and  there  Susanna  was  often  seen  walking  with 
her  maids.  Now  there  were  two  judges,  elders  of  the  people,  and 
both  wicked  men,  who  came  each  day  to  Joacim's  house,  and  they 
both  desired  to  possess  Susanna,  for  her  beauty  had  inflamed  their 
hearts.  So  it  happened  that  one  day,  when  all  the  people  departed 
at  noon,  they  departed  also,  but  they  both  returned  and  went  into 
the  garden  to  watch  for  Susanna ;  and  when  they  met  there,  being 
surprised,  they  each  questioned  the  other  of  what  he  sought.  Then 
they  acknowledged  their  wicked  purposes,  and  agreed  together  that 
they  would  hide,  and  wait  for  the  coming  of  the  woman.  Then  came 
Susanna  with  two  maids,  and  it  was  warm,  and  she  thinking  the 
garden  empty  save  of  herself,  sent  her  maids  to  bring  oil  and  wash- 
ing balls,  that  she  might  bathe  there.  So  they  left  her  to  bring  these 
things,  and  they  shut  the  door  of  the  garden  as  she  had  also  told 
them.  Then  the  two  judges  laid  hold  of  her,  and  they  told  her  their 
wicked  designs  upon  her,  and  they  said,  "  If  you  consent  not  unto  us 
we  will  accuse  you,  and  say  that  we  saw  a  young  man  with  you  here, 
and  the  doors  were  shut,  and  the  maids  sent  away."  Then  Susanna 
sighed,  and  said,  I  am  straitened  on  every  side :  for  if  I  do  this 
thing,  it  is  death  unto  me ;  and  if  I  do  it  not,  I  cannot  escape  your 
hands.  It  is  better  for  me  to  fall  into  your  hands  and  not  do  it,  than 
to  sin  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord."  Then  she  cried  out,  and  the  elders 
cried  out  against  her,  and  they  opened  the  door,  and  the  servants  of 
the  house  rushed  in ;  then  the  elders  declared  against  her,  and  all 
were  sorrowful,  "  for  there  was  never  such  a  report  made  of  Susanna." 
Now  the  next  day  when  all  the  people  were  assembled,  these  elders 
came,  and  they  called  for  Susanna,  and  Joacim  was  there,  and  his 
wife  came  with  her  children,  and  her  parents  and  friends.  Then  the 
elders  made  accusation  against  her  that  they  had  seen  her  with  the 
young  man,  and  that  he  had  escaped,  but  her  they  had  retained. 
And  they  compelled  her  to  raise  her  veil,  and  expose  her  beauty  to 
the  people.  Now  the  assembly  believed  the  accusation,  and  she  was 
condemned  to  death,  and  all  her  friends  were  weeping  and  filled  with 
grief ;  but  she  raised  her  eyes  to  heaven,  and  cried,  "  O  everlasting 
God  !  that  knowest  the  secrets,  and  knowest  all  things  before  they 
be ;  thou  knowest  that  they  have  borne  false  witness  against  me,  and 
behold,  I  must  die,  whereas  I  never  did  such  things  as  these  men 
have  maliciously  invented  against  me."  Then  the  Lord  heard  her 
cry,  and  there  arose  a  young  man  called  Daniel,  and  cried  out,  "  I 
am  clear  from  the  blood  of  this  woman."  Then  the  people  asked  the 
meaning  of  his  words,  and  he  declared  that  it  was  not  just  to  con- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


285 


demn  a  daughter  of  Israel  without  examination ;  and  he  begged 
them  to  return  again  to  the  place  of  judgment.  So  they  returned, 
and  Daniel  desired  that  the  elders  might  be  separated,  that  he  might 
question  first  one,  and  then  the  other.  And  it  was  so,  and  taking 
them  separately,  Daniel  asked  them  of  the  place  where  they  had 
seen  that  of  which  they  accused  Susanna.  And  they  contradicted 
each  other ;  for  one  said  it  was  beneath  a  mastic  tree,  and  the  other 
said  the  tree  was  an  holm.  Then  Daniel  said  that  having  thus  lied, 
they  could  not  be  trusted,  and  the  whole  accusation  was  false,  and  he 
desired  that  they  might  be  punished  for  their  false  witness  according 
to  the  law  of  Moses.  So  they  were  put  to  death,  even  as  they  had 
intended  to  kill  Susanna.  Then  the  family  of  the  woman  and 
Joacim,  her  husband,  rejoiced  greatly  because  there  was  no  dishon- 
esty found  in  her,  and  Daniel  from  that  day  forth  had  great  reputa- 
tion in  the  sight  of  the  people. 

St.  Swidbert,  who  was  a  Benedictine  monk,  left  England  to  lead 
the  life  of  a  missionary  in  Friesland,  and  the  Duchy  of  Berg.  He 
built  a  large  monastery  in  Kaiserwerdt  (about  six  miles  below  Dus- 
seldorf),  on  the  Bhine.  He  is  represented  as  a  bishop  holding  a 
star,  which  probably  signifies  the  rising  light  of  the  Gospel  which  he 
preached  to  the  pagans.    March  1,  A.  d.  713. 

St.  Swithen  was  associated  with  St.  Neot,  in  educating  Alfred 
the  Great.  He  was  Bishop  of  Winchester.  It  is  told  of  him,  that 
when  superintending  the  building  of  a  bridge  near  Winchester,  a 
poor  woman  complained  to  him  that  a  workman  had  broken  the  eggs 
in  her  basket ;  whereupon  St.  Swithen  made  the  eggs  whole.  He 
went  to  Kome  with  Alfred.  He  desired  that  his  body  should  be 
buried  with  the  poor  people,  outside  the  church,  ^'  under  the  feet  of 
the  passengers,  and  exposed  to  the  droppings  of  the  eaves  from 
above."  When  the  clergy  attempted  to  remove  his  body  to  a  more 
honorable  tomb  inside  the  church,  there  came  on  a  storm  of  rain, 
which  prevented  their  doing  so ;  and  this  continued  forty  days  until 
the  project  was  abandoned.  It  would  seem  that  there  could  have 
been  no  necessity  of  suffering  from  want  of  rain  in  Winchester,  in  those 
times.    St.  Swithen  is  represented  as  a  bishop.    July  2,  A.  D.  862. 

St.  Sylvester,  Pope  {Ital  San  Silvestro ;  Fr.  Saint  Silvestre). 
He  is  represented  in  pontifical  robes,  with  the  plain  mitre  or  the 
triple  tiara,  with  the  book  and  crosier  as  bishop.  His  proper  attri- 
bute is  the  bull,  which  crouches  at  his  feet ;  his  dress  distinguishes 
him  from  St.  Luke,  who  has  the  ox.  Sometimes  he  holds  the  por- 
traits of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.    December  31,  a.  d.  335. 

For  legends,  see  Constantine,  Emperor. 

St.  Theela  {Ital  San  Tecla ;  Fr.  St.  Th^cle  ;  Ger,  Die  Heilige 
Thekla).  Although  more  especially  a  Greek  saint,  Theela  has  been 
accepted  and  reverenced  in  the  Latin  Church.  St.  John  pronounced 
the  book  called  the  "  Acts  of  Paul  and  Theela  "  to  be  spurious ; 


286 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


but  in  the  earliest  days  of  the  Church  it  was  thought  the  hi 

praise  of  any  woman 


(Lorenzo  Costa.)    St.  Thecla. 


hest 
to 

compare  her  to  St.  Thecla. 
The  legend  relates  that 
when  St.  Paul  preached  in 
the  house  of  Onesiphorus 
at  Iconium,  Thecla  could 
hear  his  sermons  in  her  own 
house,  by  sitting  at  the 
window,  and  she  became 
so  entranced  by  what  she 
lizard  that  she  would  not 
turn  her  head  or  leave  the 
Avindow  for  any  purpose. 
Now  she  was  betrothed  to 
Thamyris,  who  loved  her 
with  great  devotion.  Her 
mother,  Theoclea,  sent  for 
the  youth  and  told  him  how 
intent  the  maiden  was  upon 
the  words  of  Paul ;  that 
she  would  neither  eat  nor 
drink  ;  and  seemed  to  care 
for  nothing  but  what  she 
heard  from  the  Apostle. 
Then  Thamyris  also  en- 
treated her  with  words  of 
love,  but  she  would  not 
heed  him.  Then  he  com- 
plained to  the  governor, 
and  the  governor  impris- 
oned Paul,  until  he  should 
have  time  to  hear  him  in 
his    own    defense.  But 


Thecla  went  to  the  prison  and  bribed  the  turnkey  with  her  earrings, 
and  the  jailer  with  a  silver  looking-glass,  and  so  gained  admission  to 
Paul.  She  sat  at  his  feet  and  listened  to  his  instructions,  and  kissed 
his  chains  in  her  delight.  Then  when  the  governor  heard  all  this,  he 
commanded  that  Paul  should  be  scourged  and  driven  out  of  the  city, 
and  that  Thecla  should  be  burned.  So  the  young  people  of  the  city 
gathered  wood  for  the  burning  of  Thecla,  and  she  was  brought  naked 
to  the  stake,  where  her  beauty  moved  the  hearts  of  all,  and  even  the 
governor  wept  at  the  thought  of  the  death  she  was  to  suffer.  But 
when  the  fire  was  kindled,  although  it  was  very  large,  the  flames 
did  not  touch  her,  and  she  remained  in  the  midst  of  it  uninjured. 
At  length  the  fire  was  extinguished,  and  she  made  her  escape. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


287 


Then  Paul  took  her  to  Antioch,  where  she  was  again  accused  before 
the  governor,  who  condemned  her  to  be  thrown  to  the  beasts  of  the 
amphitheatre.  When  this  sentence  was  known  it  created  great 
indignation,  and  the  people  cried  out,  saying,  The  judgments  de- 
clared in  tills  city  are  unjust."  But  Tliecla  submitted  without  re- 
proaches, only  asking  of  the  governor  that  her  chastity  might  be 
respected  until  the  time  of  her  martyrdom.  Now  when  the  time  ar- 
rived the  amphitheatre  was  crowded  with  spectators ;  Thecla  was 
deprived  of  her  garments  and  a  girdle  fastened  about  her  waist,  and 
the  beasts  were  let  in  upon  her.  And  murmurs  of  rage  and  disap- 
probation arose  from  the  populace.  The  women  cried  out,  *'  O  un- 
righteous judgment  !  O  cruel  sight  !  The  whole  city  ought  to  suf- 
fer for  such  crimes !  "  and  a  woman  named  Trissina  wept  aloud. 
But  a  fierce  lioness  bounded  towards  Thecla,  and  when  she  reached 
her  laid  down  at  her  feet ;  all  the  bears  and  the  he-lions  also  stretched 
themselves  out  as  if  asleep.  Then  the  governor  called  Thecla  and 
asked,  "  Who  art  thou,  woman,  that  not  one  of  the  beasts  will  touch 
thee  ?  "  And  Thecla  replied,  ''I  am  a  servant  of  the  living  God, 
and  a  believer  in  Jesus  Christ  his  Son."  And  the  governor  ordered 
that  her  garments  should  be  brought,  and  saying  to  her,  "  Put  on 
your  apparel,"  he  released  her.  Then  Trissina  took  Thecla  to  her 
own  home.  But  Thecla  desired  much  to  see  Paul,  and  determined 
to  go  in  search  of  him.  Trissina  gave  her  much  money  and  clothing 
for  the  poor,  in  order  that  Paul  might  be  aided  in  his  work.  Thecla 
found  him  at  Myra  ia  Lycia,  where  he  preached  and  labored  for  the 
conversion  of  the  people.  Thecla  returned  to  Iconium,  and  after 
years  spent  in  the  service  of  Christ,  she  was  led  by  the  Spirit  to  re- 
tire to  a  mountain  near  Seleucia,  where  she  lived  in  solitude,  and  was 
beset  with  great  temptations.  While  she  lived  in  this  mountain  she 
did  many  miraculous  cures,  and  it  was  so  that  when  the  sick  were 
brought  to  her  cave  they  were  healed,  and  the  physicians  of  Seleucia 
were  of  no  account.  Then  they  consulted  and  said,  "  This  woman 
must  be  a  priestess  of  Diana.  It  Is  by  her  chastity  she  does  these 
cures.  If  we  could  destroy  that  her  power  would  be  overthrown." 
So  they  sent  evil  men  to  do  her  violence.  And  Thecla  ran  from 
them  praying  for  aid  from  Heaven,  and  lo  !  a  great  rock  opened  be- 
fore her,  leaving  a  space  large  enough  for  her  to  enter,  and  when  she 
went  in,  it  closed  and  she  was  seen  no  more,  but  her  veil  which  one 
of  the  men  had  seized  remained  in  his  hand.  The  legend  adds, 
Thus  suffered  the  blessed  virgin  and  martyr  Thecla,  who  came  from 
Iconium  at  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  afterwards  partly  in  journeys 
and  travels,  and  partly  in  a  monastic  life  in  the  cave,  lived  seventy- 
two  years,  so  that  she  was  ninety  years  of  age  when  the  Lord  trans- 
lated her."  Thecla  is  honored  as  the  first  female  martyr  in  the 
Greek  Church.  St.  Martin  of  Tours  greatly  venerated  her,  and  as- 
sisted to  make  her  popular  in  the  Latin  Church.     She  is  repre- 


288 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


sented  in  brown  or  gray  drapery,  and  bears  the  palm.  Wild  beasts 
are  about  her.  Patroness  of  Tarragona.  September  23.  First 
century. 

St.  Theodore  {Lat.  S.  Theodorus  ;  Ital  San  Teodoro  ;  Ger,  Der 
Heilige  Theodor).  This  is  a  warrior  saint.  He  held  a  high  rank 
in  the  army  of  Lieinius.  He  was  converted  to  Christianity  and  set 
on  fire  the  temple  of  Cybele.  He  was  burned  alive  or  beheaded. 
He  is  represented  in  armor  with  a  dragon  beneath  his  feet.  He  was 
patron  saint  of  Venice  before  St.  Mark.  There  is  another  St.  Theo- 
dore sometimes  represented  in  Greek  art,  called  St.  Theodore  of 
Heraclea.  He  is  painted  as  an  armed  knight  on  horseback.  The 
Venetian  saint  is  represented  in  the  more  ancient  pictures  as  young 
and  beautiful,  and  often  in  company  with  St.  George.  January  11, 
A.  D.  300. 

St.  Theonestus  was  one  of  the  saints  of  the  Theban  Legion. 
See  St.  Maurice. 

St.  Theophilus  {Gr.  ''Ay.  0€o<^tXo?  ;  LaL  Sanctus  Theophilus  ; 
ItaL  and  Sp.  San  Teofilo  :  Ger.  Der  Heilige  Theophilus,  Gottlieb  ; 
Fr,  Saint  Theophile).  Signification  ;  A  lover  of  God.  See  St.  Doro- 
thea. 

St.  Theresa  {ltd.  Santa  Teresa,  Fondatrice  dei  Scalzi  ;  Fr, 


her  brothers  was  one  of  ardent  temperament,  sympathetic  with  her 
own,  whom  she  dearly  loved.    They  especially  delighted  in  reading 


Sainte  Therese  de  Jesus 
des  Carmes-Dechausses ; 
Sp,  La  Nuestra  Sera- 
fica  Madra  Santa  Teresa 
de  Gesu).  The  father 
of  this  saint  was  Don  Al- 
phonso  Sanchez  de  Ce- 
peda,  and  her  mother 
was  named  Beatrix.  She 
herself  is  called  Theresa 
d'Avila,  on  account  of 
the  place  of  her  birth, 
which  was  Avila,  in  Cas- 


St.  Theresa. 


tile.  She  was  born 
March  28,  1515,  and 
was  one  of  twelve  broth- 
ers and  sisters.  Her  fa- 
ther was  exceedingly  pi- 
ous, and  her  mother  ex- 
tremely romantic.  Under 
these  differing  influences 
the  character  of  the  saint 
was   formed.  Among 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


289 


the  lives  of  the  saints  and  martyrs,  and  they  conceived  a  passionate 
desire  to  obtain  the  crown  of  martyrdom  themselves.  When  but 
eight  or  nine  years  of  age  they  went  into  the  country  of  the  Moors 
begging,  hoping  to  be  taken  and  sacrificed  by  the  infidels.  They 
were  disappointed  in  this,  and  then  resolved  to  become  hermits,  but 
were  prevented  from  thus  pleasing  themselves.  But  they  bestowed 
all  their  pocket-money  in  alms,  and  whenever  they  played  with  other 
children  always  took  the  characters  of  monks  and  nuns ;  walked  in 
processions  and  sang  hymns.  When  Theresa  was  twelve  years  old 
her  mother  died.  During  her  girlhood  she  seems  to  have  forgotten 
her  religious  impressions,  and  to  have  given  herself  up  to  dress,  and 
pleasure,  pride  of  position,  and  self-love.  She  ardently  longed  to  be 
loved  and  admired.  Her  father  saw  the  dangers  which  surrounded 
her  and  placed  her  in  a  convent,  commanding  that  she  should  be 
strictly  secluded  from  the  world.  Again  her  religious  nature  was 
aroused,  and  she  felt  that  a  convent  was  the  only  haven  of  peace  and 
safety  for  her.  A  marriage  which  was  disagreeable  had  been  pro- 
posed to  her.  The  conflict  between  her  differing  tastes  and  inclina- 
tions was  so  serious  that  she  fell  ill.  Again  upon  recovering  the 
struggle  was  renewed,  and  a  second  time  she  was  prostrated  by  sick- 
ness. All  this  shows  the  extreme  sensitiveness  and  ardor  of  her  na- 
ture. At  length  the  writings  of  St.  Jerome  decided  her  to  lead  a 
religious  life.  Her  father  consented,  but  again  her  mental  sufferings 
on  parting  from  her  family  nearly  cost  her  her  life.  She  entered 
the  convent  of  Carmelites  at  Avila  at  twenty.  Here  her  mind  be- 
came more  settled,  although  not  at  rest,  and  her  health  was  for  a 
long  time  enfeebled.  She  herself  writes,  that  for  twenty  years  she 
did  not  find  the  repose  for  which  she  had  hoped.  But  she  adds, 
"  At  length  God  took  pity  on  me.  I  read  the  '  Confessions  of  St.  Au- 
gustine.' I  saw  how  he  had  been  tempted,  how  he  had  been  tried, 
and  at  length  how  he  had  conquered."  From  this  time  there  was 
a  change  in  her  life  and  feeling.  About  the  year  1561  Theresa  set 
her  mind  upon  reforming  the  Order  of  the  Carmelites.  From  the 
people  of  Avila  she  obtained  money,  and  there  she  founded  her  con- 
vent. She  dedicated  it  to  St.  Joseph,  whom  she  had  chosen  for  her 
patron  saint.  When  she  entered  her  convent  she  had  but  eight 
nuns  with  her  ;  before  her  death  there  were  thirty  convents  estab- 
lished according  to  her  rule.  She  met  with  great  difficulties,  but 
she  overcame  them  ;  and  during  the  later  years  of  her  life  she  trav- 
elled from  convent  to  convent,  promulgating  the  new  regulations  of 
her  Order,  and  settling  all  points  of  difficulty.  Her  labors  were  not 
only  for  nunneries ;  she  also  effected  changes  in  monasteries,  and,  in- 
deed, founded  fifteen  convents  for  men.  It  was  she  who  made  the 
Carmelites  barefooted  or  sandaled.  From  this  arises  the  term 
"  Barefooted  Carmelites  ;  "  in  Italy  they  are  called  Scalzi,  the  unshod, 
and  also  Padri  Teresiani.  St.  Theresa  wrote  many  essays  and  ex- 
19 


290 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


hortations  for  her  nuns ;  some  mystical  and  poetical  writings,  and  a 
history  of  her  life  written  at  the  command  of  her  spiritual  directors. 
She  never  recovered  the  perfect  use  of  her  limbs  after  the  repeated 
sicknesses  of  her  youth,  and  with  years  her  infirmities  increased. 
She  was  attacked  with  her  last  illness  at  the  palace  of  the  Duchess 
of  Alva.  She  desired  to  be  removed  to  her  own  convent  of  San  Jose. 
In  her  last  moments  she  repeated  the  text  from  the  Miserere,  A 
broken  and  a  contrite  heart,  O  Lord,  thou  wilt  not  despise."  Her 
shrine  at  Avila  in  the  church  of  her  convent  is  a  very  holy  place, 
and  many  pilgrims  visit  it.  The  nuns  of  the  convent  always  sit  on 
the  steps  and  not  on  the  seats  of  the  choir,  because  they  believe  that 
the  angels  occupied  these  seats  whenever  St.  Theresa  attended  mass. 
She  is  represented  kneeling,  and  a  flame  tipped  arrow  pierces  her 
breast,  a  symbol  of  the  fervor  of  Divine  love  which  possessed  her 
soul.  Sometimes  she  is  gazing  upwards  towards  the  holy  dove,  a 
symbol  of  inspiration.  This  was  never  claimed  by  St.  Theresa. 
Philip  III.  declared  her  to  be  the  second  patron  saint  of  Spain, 
ranking  next  to  Santiago.  The  Cortes  confirmed  this  declaration. 
October  17,  a.  d.  1582. 

St.  Thomas  {Ital.  San  Tommaso ;  Sp.  San 
Tome)  was  a  Galilean  fisherman ;  he  is  called 
Didymus,  the  twin,  and  is  the  seventh  in  the 
series  of  the  Apostles.  From  the  Scripture  his 
character  appears  to  be  affectionate,  and  self- 
sacrificing  :  "  Let  us  go  also,  that  we  may  die 
with  him."  But  so  great  was  his  incredulity 
that  he  has  always  been  remembered  for  that, 
rather  than  for  his  other  characteristics.  Ac- 
cording to  tradition  he  travelled  very  far  into 
the  East ;  founded  a  church  in  India,  and  met 
the  three  Magi,  whom  he  baptized.  The  legend, 
called  that  of  La  Madonna  della  Cintola," 
relates,  that  when  the  Virgin  ascended  to 
heaven,  Thomas  was  not  present  with  the  other 
Apostles.  Three  days  later  when  he  returned, 
he  could  not  believe  their  account,  and  desired 
her  tomb  to  be  opened.  It  was  empty ;  then 
the  Virgin,  that  he  might  be  satisfied,  dropped 
her  girdle  to  him  from  the  heavens.  (See  also 
the  Madonna ;  the  Assumption.)  According  to 
another  legend,  when  Thomas  was  at  Csesarea, 
he  had  a  vision  in  which  Christ  appeared,  and 
told  him  that  Gondoforus,  the  king  of  the  Indies, 
had  sent  his  provost  to  find  an  architect  to  build 
him  a  palace  more  gorgeous  than  that  of  the  Roman  emperor.  And 
Jesus  desired  St.  Thomas  to  go  to  undertake  this  labor.  Then 


St.  Thomas. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


291 


Thomas  went,  and  Gondoforus  gave  liim  much  treasure,  and  com- 
manded the  building  of  the  magnificent  palace,  and  went  to  a  dis 
tant  country  and  remained  two  years.  Thomas  built  no  palace,  but 
gave  all  the  riches  with  which  he  had  been  intrusted  to  the  poor  and 
sick.  When  the  king  returned  he  was  very  wroth,  and  ordered  that 
St.  Thomas  should  be  cast  into  prison,  and  reserved  for  a  terrible 
death.  Now  at  this  time  the  brother  of  the  king  died,  and  four 
days  after  his  death  he  sat  upright,  and  spoke  to  the  king,  saying, 
"  The  man  whom  thou  wouldst  torture  is  a  servant  of  God :  behold, 
I  have  been  in  Paradise,  and  the  angels  showed  to  me  a  wondrous 
palace  of  gold  and  silver,  and  precious  stones ;  and  they  said,  '  This 
is  the  palace  that  Thomas  the  architect  hath  built  for  thy  brother, 
King  Gondoforus.'  Then  the  king  ran  to  the  prison  to  liberate 
Thomas.  Then  the  Apostle  said,  "  Knowest  thou  not  that  those  who 
would  possess  heavenly  things,  have  little  care  for  the  things  of  this 
earth?  There  are  in  heaven  rich  palaces  without  number,  which 
were  prepared  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  for  those  who  pur- 
chase the  possession  through  faith  and  charity.  Thy  riches,  O  king, 
may  prepare  the  way  for  thee  to  such  a  palace,  but  they  cannot  follow 
thee  thither."  According  to  tradition  the  Portuguese  found  at  Melia- 
pore  an  inscription,  saying,  that  Thomas  was  pierced  with  a  lance  at 
the  foot  of  a  cross,  which  he  had  erected  in  that  city,  and  that  his 
body  had  been  removed  to  Goa  in  1523.  When  represented  as  an 
Apostle,  his  attribute  is  the  builder's  rule  or  square.  As  a  martyr, 
he  bears  the  lance.  The  two  principal  scenes  in  which  he  is  repre- 
sented, "  The  Incredulity  of  Thomas,"  and  the  "  Madonna  della  Cin- 
tola,"  are  easily  recognized.  Patron  of  Portugal  and  Parma.  Decem- 
ber 21. 

St.  Thomas  a  Becket.  St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury  {Lat.  Sanc- 
tus  Thomas  Episc.  Cantuariensis  et  Martyr ;  ItaL  San  Tommaso 
Cantuariense  ;  Fr.  St.  Thomas  de  Cantorb^ri).  Mrs.  Jameson,  in 
her  "  Legends  of  the  Monastic  Orders,"  gives  a  resume  of  the  princi- 
pal events  in  the  life  of  this  saint,  which  is  at  once  so  concise  and 
so  comprehensive  that  I  cannot  do  better  than  to  quote  it  :  "  The 
whole  of  his  varied  life  is  rich  in  materials  for  the  historical  painter, 
offering  all  that  could  possibly  be  desired,  in  pomp,  in  circumstance,  in 
scenery,  in  costume,  and  in  character.  What  a  series  it  would  make 
of  beautiful  subjects,  beginning  with  the  legend  of  his  mother,  the 
daughter  of  the  Emir  of  Palestine,  who,  when  his  father,  Gilbert  \ 
Becket  was  taken  prisoner  in  the  Crusade,  fell  in  love  with  him, 
delivered  him  from  captivity,  and  afterwards  followed  him  to  Eng- 
land, knowing  no  words  of  any  Western  tongue,  except '  Gilbert '  and 
*  London,'  with  the  aid  of  which  she  found  him  in  Cheapside ;  then 
her  baptism ;  her  marriage  ;  the  birth  of  the  future  saint ;  his  intro- 
duction to  the  king ;  his  mission  to  Rome ;  his  splendid  embassy  to 
Paris  ;  his  single-handed  combat  with  Engleran  de  Trie,  the  French 


292 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


knight ;  the  king  of  England  and  the  king  of  France  at  his  bed- 
side, when  he  was  sick  at  Rouen ;  his  consecration  as  archbishop  ; 
his  assumption  of  the  Benedictine  habit ;  his  midnight  penances, 
when  he  walked  alone  in  the  cloisters  bewailing  his  past  sins ;  his 
washing  the  feet  of  the  pilgrims  and  beggars ;  his  angry  conference 
with  the  king ;  their  reconciliation  at  Friatville ;  his  progress  through 
the  city  of  London,  when  the  grateful  and  enthusiastic  people  flung 
themselves  in  his  path,  and  kissed  the  hem  of  his  garment ;  his 
interview  with  the  assassins ;  his  murder  on  the  steps  of  the  altar ; 
and,  finally,  the  proud  king  kneeling  at  midnight  on  the  same  spot, 


(After  a  print  by  Vostermann.)    St.  Thomas  k  Becket. 


submitting  to  be  scourged  in  penance  for  his  crime."  It  was  his 
martyrdom  which  made  him  a  saint,  and  gave  him  a  place  in  art. 
When  he  was  made  archbishop  he  ceased  to  be  chancellor,  and 
became  a  different  man,  and  especially  so  to  King  Henry.  He  main- 
tained his  rank  as  spiritual  father  of  the  king  and  people  with  great 
determination.  Henry  was  at  last  desperate  at  the  continued  opposi- 
tion of  the  courageous  priest,  and  in  a  moment  of  more  than  usual 
temper  exclaimed,  "  Of  the  cowards  that  eat  my  bread,  is  there  none 
that  will  rid  me  of  this  upstart  priest  ? "  This  was  enough ;  as 
powerful  as  a  death  warrant :  and  four  Normans,  attendant  upon  the 
king,  bound  themselves  by  oath  to  murder  the  archbishop.  They 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


293 


went  to  Canterbury,  and  from  the  time  of  their  appearance  before 
him  he  divined  their  awful  errand.  At  first  they  were  not  armed ; 
he  spoke  to  them  with  great  spirit,  and  declared  that  he  feared  not 
their  swords,  and  would  die  sooner  than  retract  what  he  had  said  or 
done.  This  enraged  them,  and  they  rushed  out  to  summon  their 
followers.  Then  was  heard  the  singing  of  the  Vesper  Hymn,  and 
his  friends  urged  Becket  to  go  into  the  church  as  a  place  of  safety. 
He  ordered  the  cross  of  Canterbury  to  be  borne  before  him,  and 
passed  through  the  cloister  into  the  church.  His  friends  barred  the 
gates  behind  him,  but  he  commanded  them  to  be  reopened,  saying, 
that  God's  house  should  never  be  fortified  as  a  place  of  defense.  As 
he  ascended  the  steps  of  the  choir,  the  four  knights  with  twelve 
attendants,  all  armed,  burst  into  the  church.  "  Where  is  the  traitor  ?  " 
demanded  one  of  the  number.  All  was  silent.  "  Where  is  the  arch- 
bishop ?  "  asked  Reginald  Fitzurse.  Then  Becket  replied,  "  Here  I  am ; 
the  archbishop,  but  no  traitor  !  Reginald,  I  have  granted  thee  many 
favors ;  what  is  thy  object  now  ?  If  you  seek  my  life,  let  that  suf- 
fice ;  and  I  command  you  in  the  name  of  God,  not  to  touch  one  of 
my  people."  He  was  then  told  that  he  must  absolve  the  Archbishop 
^  of  York  and  the  Bishop  of  Salisbury,  whom  he  had  excommunicated. 
"  Till  they  make  satisfaction,  I  will  not  absolve  them,"  he  firmly 
answered.  "  Then  die  !  "  said  Tracy.  The  first  blow  aimed  at  his 
head  was  broken  in  its  force  by  his  cross-bearer,  so  that  he  was  but 
slightly  wounded.  Feeling  the  blood  on  his  face  he  bowed  his  head, 
and  said,  "  In  the  name  of  Christ,  and  for  the  defense  of  his  Church, 
I  am  ready  to  die."  The  assassins  then  wished  to  remove  him  from 
the  church,  in  order  to  lessen  the  horrible  sacrilege  they  were  com- 
mitting, but  Becket  declared  that  he  would  die  there,  and  desired 
them  to  hasten  their  work.  He  said,  "  I  humbly  commend  my  spirit 
to  God,  who  gave  it,"  and  instantly  he  was  struck  down,  and  soon 
dead ;  but  so  many  blows  were  lavished  on  him  that  his  brains 
strewed  the  pavement  before  the  altar.  His  monks  buried  him  in 
the  crypt  at  Canterbury.  According  to  tradition,  as  they  bore  him 
to  the  tomb,  ano;els  were  heard  sino;ina;  the  beojinnino^  of  the  Service 
of  the  Martyrs,  "  Lastabitur  Justus."  The  monks  were  for  a  moment 
amazed ;  they  ceased  their  funeral  hymn ;  then  as  if  inspired  they 
joined  their  voices  with  the  angelic  hymn,  and  bore  him  in  triumph 
to  his  grave.  The  Church  canonized  him.  His  remains  were  in- 
closed in  a  splendid  shrine,  and  his  votaries  from  all  parts  of  the 
world  made  pilgrimages  to  the  scene  of  his  martyrdom.  But  the 
power  of  the  kings,  the  power  he  had  despised,  burned  his  relics, 
and  threw  the  ashes  into  the  Thames.  He  was  fifty-two  years  old 
when  he  died.  He  is  represented  as  a  bishop,  with  the  crosier  and 
Gospels  in  his  hand ;  as  a  martyr  he  is  without  the  mitre,  and  a 
sword  or  axe  is  struck  into  his  head ;  or  the  blood  trickles  from  a 
wound  over  his  face.    December  29,  A.  d.  1170. 


294 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


St.  Thomas  Aquinas  {Ital  San  Tommaso  di  Aquino,  Dottore 
Angelico)  was  born  at  Belcastro  in  the  year  1226.  His  father  was 
Count  of  Aquino,  Lord  of  Loretto  and  Belcastro.  Thomas  was  grand 
nephew  of  Frederick  I.,  and  a  kinsman  of  the  emperors  Henry  VI. 
and  Frederick  H.  The  sweetness  of  temper,  for  which  as  a  child 
he  was  remarkable,  was  preserved  through  life.  When  ten  years 
old,  the  teachers  at  Monte  Casino  declared  they  could  instruct  him 
no  farther,  so  great  was  his  learning.  His  mother,  the  Countess 
Theodora,  desired  that  he  should  have  a  private  tutor,  but  his  father 
placed  him  at  the  University  of  Naples.  His  own  inclination  and 
his  mother's  counsels  kept  him  free  from  the  temptations  around  him. 
At  seventeen  he  assumed  the  Dominican  habit  at  Naples.  His 
mother  hastened  to  persuade  him  not  to  take  the  final  vows.  He, 
fearing  he  could  not  resist  her  appeals,  fled  towards  Paris,  but  his 
brothers,  Landolfo  and  llinaldo,  seized  him  near  Acquapendente ; 
they  tore  off  his  monk's  habit,  and  took  him  to  his  father's  castle  of 
Kocca-Secca.  Then  his  mother  came,  and  when  her  entreaties 
would  not  prevail,  she  had  him  guarded,  and  allowed  no  one  to  see 
him  save  his  two  sisters,  who  were  instructed  to  persuade  him  to  give 
up  the  idea  of  a  religious  life.  The  result  was  that  Thomas  so  in- 
fluenced his  sisters  that  they  sympathized  with  him,  and  aided  him 
to  escape.  He  was  lowered  from  a  window  in  a  basket ;  some  monks 
waited  for  him  below,  and  not  a  long  time  clasped  before  he  took  his 
final  vows.  He  was  as  eminent  for  his  humility,  and  the  quietness 
of  his  manner  by  which  he  concealed  his  acquirements,  as  for  his 
learning.  He  was  surnamed  Bos,  the  Ox.  On  one  occasion  when 
it  was  his  duty  to  read  in  the  refectory,  the  superior  corrected  him, 
and  told  him  to  read  a  word  with  a  false  quantity.  St.  Thomas  knew 
that  he  was  right  and  the  superior  wrong,  but  he  did  as  directed 
instantly.    Being  told  that  he  should  not  have  yielded,  he  replied, 

The  pronunciation  of  a  word  is  of  little  importance,  but  humility 
and  obedience  are  of  the  greatest."  Pope  Clement  lY.  desired  to 
make  him  an  archbishop,  but  he  declined  all  preferments.  He  was 
the  most  learned  man  of  his  time  in  the  Church.  Being  sent  on  a 
mission  to  Naples  he  was  taken  ill  at  Fossa-Nova,  on  his  journey. 
He  was  carried  to  a  Cistercian  abbey,  where  he  died.  When  ex- 
treme unction  was  administered  to  him,  he  requested  to  be  laid  on 
ashes  on  the  floor.  He  is  represented  in  the  Dominican  habit.  His 
attributes  are :  a  book  or  books ;  the  pen  or  inkhorn  ;  the  sacramen- 
tal cup,  on  account  of  his  having  composed  the  Office  of  the  Sacra- 
ment ;  on  his  breast  a  sun,  and  sometimes  an  eye  within  it ;  fre- 
quently he  looks  up  at  a  dove,  or  writes.    March  7,  a.  d.  1274. 

St.  Thomas  of  Villanueva,  surnamed  the  Almoner.  He  was 
born  in  1488.  His  parents  were  of  moderate  fortune,  but  dis- 
tinguished for  their  charities.  They  supplied  seeds  for  the  fields  of 
the  poor,  and  lent  their  money  without  interest.    The  son  inherited 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


295 


this  virtue  to  an  intense  degree.  As  a  child  he  would  take  off  his 
own  clothes  to  give  away  to  children  in  the  street.  He  showed  from 
his  infancy  a  singular  fitness  for  the  ministry  of  the  Church.  He 
studied  fourteen  years  at  Alcala  and  Salamanca,  and  entered  the 
Augustine  Order  at  thirty.  In  his  life  it  is  related  that  he  pro- 
nounced his  vows  in  the  self-same  hour  in  which  Luther  publicly 
renounced  his.  He  passed  two  years  in  penance  and  prayer,  and  then 
became  an  eloquent  and  distinguished  preacher.  Charles  Y.  the 
Emperor  of  Spain,  held  St.  Thomas  in  great  veneration,  and  when  he 
would  not  listen  to  the  entreaties  of  friends  or  the  requests  of  his  son 
Don  Philip,  he  yielded  to  St.  Thomas,  saying,  that  he  considered  his 
request  as  a  divine  command.  In  1544  Charles  made  him  Arch- 
bishop of  Valencia.  He  was  reluctant  in  accepting  the  office,  and 
arrived  in  Valencia  so  poorly  clad  and  provided  for,  that  his  canons 
sent  him  four  thousand  crowns  to  buy  him  an  outfit ;  he  thanked 
them  and  sent  it  to  the  hospital  for  the  sick ;  and  this,  when  the 
only  hat  he  had,  had  been  worn  twenty-six  years  !  His  whole  life 
was  but  a  grand  series  of  beneficent  deeds.  He  divided  the  poor 
into  six  classes ;  1.  The  bashful  poor,  who  had  been  independent, 
and  were  ashamed  to  beg.  2.  The  poor  girls,  whose  poverty  exposed 
them  to  temptation  to  sin  and  shame.  3.  The  poor  debtors.  4. 
Orphans  and  foundlings.  5.  The  lame,  sick,  and  infirm.  6.  Stran- 
gers and  travellers  who  came  to  the  city  without  the  means  to  pay  for 
food  and  lodging.  For  these  he  had  a  large  kitchen  always  open 
where  they  could  have  food ;  rooms  where  they  could  sleep ;  and  in 
addition  a  small  sum  of  money  when  they  went  on  their  way.  And 
in  the  care  of  all  this  he  did  not  forget  his  duties  as  a  spiritual 
teacher.  When  he  died  he  had  given  away  everything  except  the 
pallet  on  which  he  laid,  and  this  was  to  be  given  to  a  jailer  who  as- 
sisted him  in  executing  his  benevolent  designs.  It  was  so  surprising 
that  in  spite  of  all  he  had  given  away  he  still  left  no  debts,  that  it 
was  believed  that  his  money  had  been  miraculously  increased  accord- 
ing to  his  wants.  Thousands  of  poor  people  followed  him  to  his  grave. 
When  he  was  made  a  Beato  it  was  also  decreed  that  he  should  be 
represented  with  an  open  purse,  in  place  of  the  crosier  ;  but  the  lat- 
ter is  not  always  omitted.  He  is  usually  surrounded  by  poor  people, 
who  kneel.  The  finest  pictures  of  this  saint  are  Spanish.  One  of 
Murillo's  of  great  beauty,  represents  him  as  a  child  dividing  his 
clothing  among  four  ragged  little  ones.  The  one  called  the  Charity 
of  San  Tomas  de  Villa  Nueva,"  Murillo  called  "  his  own  picture," 
and  preferred  it  to  all  his  other  works.  In  this  he  stands  at  the 
door  of  his  cathedral  relieving  a  lame  beggar  kneeling  before  him. 
September  17,  a.  d.  1555. 
St.  Tibertius.    April  14.    See  St.  Cecilia. 

Tobias,  the  son  of  Tobit.  The  pictures  of  the  Archangel  Ra- 
phael, are  so  often  illustrative  of  his  journey  with  the  young  Tobias, 


296 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


that  the  story  of  their  companionship  rightly  belongs  here.  Now 
Tobit  was  a  rich  man  and  just ;  and  he  and  his  wife  Sara  were  car- 
ried away  into  captivity  by  the  Assyrians.  He  then  gave  alms  to 
all  his  brethren  that  he  could  help  and  lived  a  just  life,  not  eating  the 
bread  of  the  Gentiles.  But  in  one  way  and  another,  his  misfortunes 
were  increased  and  he  became  blind,  and  nothing  was  left  to  him 
but  his  wife  Sara  and  his  son  Tobias.  And  he  was  so  afflicted  that 
he  prayed  for  death.  At  this  same  time  there  dwelt  in  the  city  of 
Ecbatane  a  man  called  Raguel,  and  he  had  an  only  daughter  who 
had  had  seven  husbands,  and  they  were  all  killed  by  the  evil  spirit 
Asmodeus,  as  soon  as  they  were  married  to  her.  And  her  maids 
reproached  her  and  said  she  had  strangled  her  husbands.  And  she 
was  so  wretched  at  this,  that  she  too  prayed  for  death  that  she  might 
be  at  peace.  So  God  sent  his  angel  Raphael  that  he  might  take 
away  the  blindness  of  Tobit  and  the  reproach  of  this  unhappy 
woman.  Then  Tobit  remembered  that  he  had  given  to  Gabael  in 
Media,  ten  talents  in  trust,  and  he  determined  to  send  Tobias  to  ask 
for  this  money.  So  he  called  him  and  gave  him  directions  concerning 
it.  Then  Tobias  said,  "  But  how  can  I  receive  the  money,  seeing  I 
know  him  not  ?  "  Then  Tobit  gave  him  the  handwriting  and  com- 
manded him  to  seek  for  a  guide  who  would  show  him  the  way.  So 
Tobias  sought  a  guide,  and  Raphael  offered  to  go  with  him,  and  he 
was  so  that  Tobias  knew  not  that  he  Avas  an  angel.  So  he  took  him 
to  his  father,  and  they  agreed  upon  the  wages  of  the  guide  ;  and 
Tobit  gave  directions  for  their  journey,  and  they  departed.  And 
Sara  was  much  grieved  to  part  from  her  son  Tobias.  At  evening 
they  came  to  the  river  Tigris  and  they  lodged  there,  and  when  Tobias 
went  to  wash  himself  a  fish  leaped  out  at  him.  And  the  angel  told 
him  to  take  the  fish,  and  take  out  the  heart  and  the  liver  and  the  gall 
and  preserve  them  carefully.  This  Tobias  did,  and  they  roasted  the 
fish  and  ate  it.  Then  Tobias  asked  the  use  of  the  parts  they  had 
kept,  and  the  angel  said,  the  heart  and  the  liver  were  able  to  cure 
any  one  vexed  with  an  evil  spirit  if  a  smoke  was  made  of  them  be- 
fore the  person,  and  the  gall  would  take  away  blindness  from  one 
who  hath  whiteness  in  the  eyes.  Now  when  they  were  come  near  to 
Rages  the  angel  said,  "  Brother,  to-day  we  shall  lodge  with  Raguel 
who  is  thy  cousin ;  he  also  hath  one  only  daughter  named  Sara  ;  I 
will  speak  for  her  that  she  may  be  given  thee  for  a  wife ;  "  and  he 
added,  that  according  to  the  laws  she  belonged  to  Tobias,  and  as  she 
was  fair  and  wise,  he  could  marry  her  on  their  return.  Then  Tobias 
said,  he  had  ^'  heard  that  she  had  been  married  to  seven  husbands 
who  all  died  in  the  bridal  chamber,  and  he  feared  that  he  too  should 
die  and  thus  bring  his  parents  to  their  grave  in  sorrow,  since  he  was 
their  only  son."  But  Raphael  assured  him  that  she  was  the  wife 
intended  for  him  by  the  Lord,  and  he  should  be  preserved  if  when 
he  came  into  the  marriage  chamber  he  should  make  a  smoke  with  the 


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297 


heart  and  liver  of  the  fish,  for  at  the  smell  of  it  the  devil  would  flee 
to  come  back  no  more.  "  Now  when  Tobias  had  heard  these  things 
he  loved  her,  and  his  heart  was  effectually  joined  to  her/'  So  when 
they  were  come  to  Ecbatane  they  met  Sara  and  she  took  them  to  the 
house  of  Raguel  her  father,  and  when  they  made  themselves  known 
unto  him  he  rejoiced  to  see  them  and  wept  to  hear  of  the  blindness 
of  his  cousin  Tobit,  and  Edna  his  wife  and  Sara  wept  also.  And 
they  killed  a  ram  of  the  flock  and  prepared  a  supper  ;  but  Tobias 
said  unto  Raphael,  Speak  of  those  things  of  which  thou  didst  talk 
in  the  way,  and  let  this  business  be  dispatched.''  So  they  asked 
Raguel  for  Sara,  that  he  should  give  her  to  Tobias  as  his  wife.  Then 
Raguel  answered  and  told  of  the  fate  of  the  seven  husbands  she  had 
had  already  ;  but  he  could  not  deny  the  request  of  Tobias,  for  by  the 
law  of  Moses  she  belonged  to  him.  And  so  it  was  settled  before 
they  did  eat  together,  and  Raguel  joined  their  hands  and  blessed 
them.  Then  Edna  prepared  the  marriage  chamber  and  brought  her 
daughter  in  thither,  and  Sara  wept,  but  her  mother  comforted  her 
and  blessed  her.  Then  when  Tobias  went  in  he  took  heed  to  make 
the  smoke  with  the  heart  and  liver  of  the  fish  as  Raphael  had  said  ; 
and  when  the  evil  spirit  perceived  the  odor  thereof  he  fled  away  to 
return  no  more.  Then  Tobias  and  Sara  knelt  down,  and  Tobias 
prayed  as  Raphael  had  commanded  him,  and  Sara  said.  Amen.  And 
in  the  morning  Raguel  went  out  and  dug  a  grave,  for  he  counted 
Tobias  as  one  dead,  and  he  desired  to  bury  him  quietly  that  none 
should  know  what  had  taken  place.  And  he  sent  a  servant  to  see 
if  he  were  dead  ;  and  the  servant  found  them  both  quietly  sleeping. 
Then  did  Raguel  and  Edna  rejoice,  and  they  prepared  to  keep  the 
marriage  feast  of  their  daughter.  And  this  feast  kept  fourteen  days. 
Meanwhile  the  angel  went  to  Gabael  and  received  from  him  the 
money  that  Tobit  had  left  with  him.  And  when  the  feast  was  ended, 
Tobias  with  Sara  and  the  angel  departed  to  go  to  his  father.  And 
Raguel  and  Edna  blessed  them  and  gave  them  half  of  their  goods, 
servants  and  cattle  and  money.  Now  as  they  approached  to  the  city 
of  Nineveh  the  angel  said  to  Tobias,  "  Let  us  haste  before  thy  wife 
and  prepare  the  house ;  And  take  in  thine  hand  the  gall  of  the  fish." 
So  they  went,  and  the  little  dog  which  they  took  away  went  with  them. 
Now  Anna  was  watching  for  them,  and  when  she  saw  them  she  told 
Tobit  that  they  were  coming,  and  they  were  exceeding  glad,  for  they 
had  both  been  troubled  at  their  long  absence  and  feared  lest  some 
evil  had  overtaken  them.  Then  said  Raphael  to  Tobias,  I  know 
that  thy  father  will  open  his  eyes ;  therefore  anoint  thou  his  eyes 
with  the  gall,  and  being  pricked  therewith,  he  shall  rub  and  the 
whiteness  shall  fall  away  and  he  shall  see  thee."  Then  Tobias  did 
so,  and  it  was  as  the  angel  said,  and  the  sight  of  Tobit  was  restored 
to  him.  Then  they  all  rejoiced  and  blessed  God,  and  Tobias  re- 
counted what  had  happened  to  him.  And  they  went  out  to  meet  Sara 


298 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


and  the  servants  and  all  that  he  had  brought  with  him.  And  the 
people  wondered  when  they  saw  Tobit  and  he  was  no  more  blind. 
And  they  brought  in  Sara  and  made  a  feast  which  they  kept  for 
seven  days.  Then  Tobit  said  to  his  son,  See  that  the  man  have 
his  wages  that  went  forth  with  thee,  and  thou  must  give  him  more." 
And  Tobias  answered,  "  0  father  !  it  is  no  harm  to  me  to  give  him 
half  of  those  things  which  I  have  brought,  for  he  hath  brought  me 
again  to  thee  in  safety,  and  made  whole  my  wife  and  brought  me 
the  money,  and  likewise  healed  thee."  And  Tobit  said,  "  It  is  due 
unto  him."  So  they  called  Raphael  and  made  known  unto  him  their 
intentions.  Then  told  he  them  to  praise  God,  and  glorify  Him  for 
all  this  good.  And  he  told  Tobit  that  all  his  acts  and  his  goodness 
had  been  known  in  heaven,  and  his  weariness  of  life  and  desire  for 
death ;  and  also  that  of  Sara,  who  had  so  great  troubles.  Then  he 
said,  "  And  now  God  hath  sent  me  to  heal  thee,  and  Sara  thy 
daughter-in-law.  I  am  Raphael,  one  of  the  seven  holy  angels,  which 
present  the  prayers  of  the  saints,  and  which  go  in  and  out  before 
the  glory  of  the  Holy  One."  "  Then  were  they  both  troubled  and 
fell  upon  their  faces  ;  for  they  feared.  But  he  said  unto  them, 
"  Fear  not,  for  it  shall  go  well  with  you ;  praise  God  therefore." 
And  after  a  few  more  words  he  vanished,  and  when  they  arose  they 
could  see  no  one.  And  from  this  time  forth  all  did  go  well  with 
Tobit  and  Sara  his  wife,  with  Raguel  and  Edna  his  wife,  and  with 
their  children.  And  while  they  lived  they  never  ceased  to  praise 
God  for  all  the  wonderful  things  He  had  showed  them.  And  when 
Tobit  and  Sara  were  dead,  Tobias  took  his  wife  and  children  and 
went  to  Ecbatane  to  Raguel  his  father-in-law.  And  when  Raguel 
died  he  inherited  his  riches  and  lived  with  honor ;  and  he  lived  to 
hear  of  the  destruction  of  Nineveh,  and  died  at  Ecbatane,  being  an 
hundred  and  seven  and  twenty  years  old. 

St.  Torpe,  or  Torpet,  is  a  Pisan  saint.  According  to  the 
legend  he  was  a  Roman,  and  served  in  the  guards  of  Nero.  He 
was  converted  by  Paul.  He  was  beheaded.  When  there  was  no 
water  in  the  Arno  and  all  were  suffering  for  want  of  rain,  the  head 
of  the  saint  was  carried  in  procession,  and  so  effectual  was  his  inter- 
cession that  the  rain  fell  in  floods  and  swept  away  a  portion  of  the 
procession,  and,  mirabile  dictu,  the  head  of  the  saint  also !  The 
people  knew  not  what  to  do,  when  two  angels  appeared,  dived  be- 
neath the  water,  and  brought  again  the  head  of  the  saint  and  gave  it 
to  the  archbishop.  Saint  Torpe  was  the  patron  of  Pisa  before  St. 
Ranieri.  For  a  time  he  was  eclipsed  by  the  latter,  but  his  fame 
again  revived  in  the  seventeenth  century.  He  is  represented  as  a 
Roman  soldier,  and  bears  a  white  banner  with  a  red  cross. 

True  Cross,  The  History  of.  A  long  time  after  Adam  was 
driven  out  of  Paradise,  he  grew  so  weary  of  his  life  of  toil  and  hard- 
ship that  he  longed  for  death,  and  he  sent  liis  son  Seth  to  the  angel 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


299 


who  guarded  the  Tree  of  Life  to  ask  him  to  send  him  the  oil  of 
mercy  which  God  had  promised  him  when  he  was  driven  out  of 
Paradise.  And  when  his  father  had  pointed  out  the  way  Seth  went, 
and  when  he  had  asked  the  angel  for  the  oil,  he  replied,  "  The  oil  of 
mercy  which  God  promised  to  Adam  can  only  be  given  after  five 
thousand  five  hundred  years  shall  have  elapsed ;  but  take  these  three 
seeds,  they  will  bear  fruit  for  the  good  of  mankind."  Then  he  gave 
him  three  seeds,  believed  to  have  been  from  the  same  tree  of  which 
Adam  had  eaten.  And  the  angel  told  Seth  that  his  father  should 
die  after  three  days,  and  commanded  that  after  his  death  these  seeds 
should  be  put  under  his  tongue.  Then  Adam  was  joyous,  for  he 
much  desired  to  die.  And  on  the  third  day  he  died,  and  Seth  buried 
him  in  the  Yalley  of  Hebron,  and  the  three  seeds  were  under  his 
tongue.  These  seeds  soon  sprung  up,  and  the  three  saplings  thus 
formed  united  into  one,  thus  becoming  a  symbol  of  the  Trinity.  It 
was  with  a  part  of  this  tree  that  Moses  sweetened  the  waters  of 
Marah ;  and  with  it  also  he  struck  the  rock  without  calling  on  God ; 
for  which  sin  he  was  forbidden  to  enter  the  Promised  Land.  David 
also  did  miracles  with  this  tree,  and  at  last  brought  it  to  Jerusalem, 
and  placed  it  in  his  garden,  and  built  a  wall  about  it.  When  Solo- 
mon was  building  the  Temple,  he  saw  that  this  tree  was  good  and 
strong,  and  it  was  cut  down  for  a  beam ;  but  the  workmen  could 
never  make  it  fit  in  any  place  :  sometimes  it  was  too  long,  and  again 
too  short,  so  at  last  it  was  given  up  and  thrown  aside.  After  some 
years  a  woman,  Sibylla,  sat  down  upon  it  and  immediately  her 
clothes  took  fire  ;  and  she  prophesied  concerning  it,  that  it  would  be 
for  the  destruction  of  the  Jews.  And  some  men  who  were  near  by 
cast  it  into  a  pond  and  it  rose  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  formed 
a  bridge  upon  which  many  passed.  But  when  the  Queen  of  Sheba 
came  to  visit  Solomon,  as  she  came  to  this  bridge  she  had  a  vision 
of  its  future,  and  she  would  not  step  upon  it,  but  knelt  down  and 
worshipped  it ;  and  she  took  off  her  sandals  and  walked  through 
the  stream,  and  she  told  Solomon  that  one  should  hang  on  that  tree 
who  should  redeem  the  human  race.  Then  Solomon  took  it  and 
cased  it  in  silver  and  gold  and  put  it  above  the  door  of  the  Temple 
that  all  who  came  in  might  bless  it.  But  when  Abijah,  the  son  of 
Rehoboam,  reigned,  he  desired  the  gold  and  silver,  and  he  took  it 
away  and  buried  the  wood  deep  in  the  earth.  Now  after  a  time  a 
well  was  dug  over  the  spot  where  the  Tree  of  Mercy  was  buried, 
and  its  waters  were  powerful  to  heal  the  sick,  and  it  was  called  the 
Pool  of  Bethesda.  As  the  time  for  the  death  of  Jesus  drew  near, 
this  beam  was  cast  up  to  the  surface  of  the  waters,  and  the  Jews  took 
it  and  made  from  it  The  Cross  ;  so  was  the  tree  which  had  grown 
from  the  seeds  from  Paradise,  and  which  had  been  nourished  by  the 
decaying  body  of  Adam,  become  at  length  the  tree  of  the  death  of 
the  second  Adam.    Another  legend  relates  that  the  Jews  believed 


300 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


that  the  body  of  Jesus  would  hang  as  long  as  the  cross  would  last, 
and  that  it  was  made  of  four  different  kinds  of  wood,  but  the  stem 
was  of  cypress  wood,  because  this  would  not  decay  in  earth  or  water. 
After  the  crucifixion  the  cross  was  buried  deep  in  the  earth  and 
there  remained  for  more  than  three  centuries,  until  Constantine  and 
his  mother  the  Empress  Helena  were  converted  to  Christianity ;  and 
she  made  a  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem,  where  she  was  seized  with  an 
uncontrollable  desire  to  discover  the  Cross  of  Christ.  So  Helena 
commanded  that  all  the  wise  men  of  the  Jews  should  come  to  her 
palace.  And  they  were  alarmed,  and  questioned  one  with  another 
why  this  should  be.  And  there  was  one  named  Judas  who  said, 
"  Know  my  brethren,  that  the  empress  hath  come  hither  to  discover 
the  cross  on  which  Jesus  Christ  suffered.  But  take  heed  that  it  be 
not  revealed,  for  in  the  hour  that  the  cross  comes  to  light,  our  an- 
cient law  is  no  more,  and  the  traditions  of  our  people  will  be 
destroyed.  My  grandfather  Zaccheus  taught  this  to  my  father 
Simon,  and  my  father  Simon  hath  taught  me.  Moreover  he  told  me 
that  his  brother  Stephen  had  been  stoned  for  believing  in  him  who 
was  crucified,  and  bid  me  beware  of  blaspheming  Christ  or  any  of 
his  disciples."  Then  the  Jews  obeyed  his  injunction,  and  when  the 
empress  questioned  them  they  all  declared  that  they  knew  not  where 
the  cross  was  hid.  So  Helena  commanded  that  they  should  all  be 
buried  alive.  Then  were  they  alarmed,  and  they  said,  "  Here  is  a 
just  man,  and  the  son  of  a  prophet,  who  knoweth  all  things  pertain- 
ing to  our  law,  and  who  will  answer  all  questions."  Then  she 
released  the  others,  but  Judas  she  retained.  And  when  she  ques- 
tioned him  he  exclaimed,  Alas  !  how  should  I  know  of  these  things 
which  happened  so  long  before  I  was  born  ?  "  Then  the  empress 
was  so  filled  with  wrath  that  she  declared  he  should  be  starved  to 
death,  and  for  that  purpose  he  was  cast  into  a  dry  well.  Here  he 
endured  hunger  and  thirst  for  six  days,  but  on  the  seventh  day  he 
yielded  and  led  the  empress  to  the  Temple  of  Yenus,  which  Hadrian 
had  built  above  the  place  where  the  cross  was  buried.  Then  Helena 
commanded  that  the  temple  should  be  destroyed.  And  after  that 
Judas  began  to  dig,  and  when  he  had  dug  twenty  feet  he  found  three 
crosses  ;  but  they  were  all  alike  and  no  one  knew  which  was  that 
of  Jesus.  And  as  Helena  and  Macarius  the  bishop  of  Jerusalem 
were  consulting  as  to  what  should  now  be  done,  behold,  a  dead  man 
was  carried  past  to  his  burial.  And  Macarius  desired  that  he  should 
be  laid  on  the  crosses,  and  it  was  done.  Now  when  he  was  put 
upon  the  first  and  the  second  he  stirred  not,  but  when  he  was  put 
upon  the  third  he  was  restored  to  life,  and  the  demons  were  heard  to 
lament  in  the  air  above  because  Satan  was  overpowered  and  Christ 
reigned,  while  the  man  went  on  his  way  rejoicing.  Then  was  Judas 
baptized,  and  his  name  was  Syriacus  or  Quiriacus.  But  the  nails 
of  the  cross  were  still  wanting,  and  when  Helena  prayed  for  them 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


301 


they  appeared  on  the  surface  of  the  earth  shining  Uke  gold.  Then 
Helena  divided  the  cross,  and  left  a  part  at  Jerusalem,  and  a  part 
she  carried  to  Constantinople.  Constantine  kept  a  portion  of  it 
which  was  inserted  into  a  statue  of  himself,  and  the  rest  was  carried 
to  Rome,  where  the  Church  of  Santa  Croce  in  Gerusalemme  was 
built  to  receive  and  preserve  it.  One  of  the  nails  she  had  placed  in 
the  crown  of  Constantine,  another  she  had  made  into  a  bit  for  his 
horse,  and  the  third  she  threw  into  a  whirlpool  in  the  Adriatic,  and 
immediately  the  sea  was  calm.  In  the  year  615  Chosroes,  King  of 
Persia,  came  to  Jerusalem  and  carried  away  the  portion  that  had 
been  left  there.  Then  the  Emperor  Heraclius  gathered  his  army 
together  and  defied  Chosroes  to  battle.  When  they  met  the  king 
and  the  emperor  decided  to  settle  their  difficulties  by  single  combat. 
Heraclius  overcame  Chosroes,  and  when  he  refused  to  be  baptized 
he  cut  off  his  head.  Then  the  emperor  returned  to  Jerusalem  in 
great  triumph,  and  bearing  the  cross  with  him ;  but  when  he  would, 
he  could  not  enter,  for  the  walls  were  all  closed  up  by  a  miracle. 
He  was  astonished  at  this  and  an  angel  came  to  him  and  said, 
"  When  the  King  of  Heaven  and  Earth  entered  through  this  gate  to 
suffer  for  the  sins  of  the  world,  he  entered  not  with  regal  pomp,  but 
barefooted  and  mounted  on  an  ass."  Then  Heraclius  wept  that 
pride  should  have  so  led  him  to  sin,  and  he  descended  to  the  earth, 
took  off  his  crown,  and  also  his  shoes,  and  took  the  royal  robes  off 
even  to  his  shirt.  Then  he  put  the  cross  on  his  shoulder,  and  the 
wall  opened  that  he  might  pass  in.  Then  was  the  cross  exalted  on 
an  altar  and  displayed  to  the  people.  There  is  scarcely  a  point  in 
this  legend  which  has  not  been  the  subject  of  art.  It  is  also  related 
in  the  legends  that  The  Title  of  accusation  was  found  and  sent  to 
Rome  by  St.  Helena ;  that  it  was  placed  on  an  arch  in  the  Church 
of  Santa  Croce,  and  was  there  found  in  a  lead  box,  in  1492.  The 
inscriptions  in  the  Hebrew,  Greek,  and  Latin  were  in  red  letters, 
while  the  wood  on  which  they  were  painted  was  white.  Since  then 
it  has  faded,  and  the  words  Jesus  and  Judasorum  are  eaten  away. 
The  board  is  now  only  nine  inches  long,  but  was  originally  about 
twelve.  The  Sponge  which  was  used  for  the  vinegar,  to  wash  the 
wounds  of  Christ,  as  was  the  custom  in  crucifixions,  is  preserved 
with  great  veneration  at  the  Church  of  St.  John  Lateran  at  Rome. 
The  Lance  which  pierced  his  side  is  also  at  Rome,  but  the  point  is  at 
Sainte  Chapelle  in  Paris.  According  to  various  authorities  it  was 
buried  with  the  cross.  St.  Gregory  of  Tours  and  Venerable  Bede 
agree  that  in  their  day  this  lance  was  at  Jerusalem.  In  order  to 
guard  it  from  the  Saracens  it  was  buried  at  Antioch,  and  there  it 
was  found  in  1098,  when  it  wrought  many  wonderful  miracles.  It 
was  then  carried  to  Jerusalem  and  from  there  to  Constantinople. 
Baldwin  II.  sent  the  point  of  it  to  Venice  in  order  to  raise  money 
for  his  necessities.    St.  Louis  of  France  obtained  it  by  paying  the 


302 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


sum  Baldwin  had  received.  The  rest  of  the  lance  remained  at  Con- 
stantinople after  it  was  taken  by  the  Turks  until  1492,  when  the 
Sultan  Bajazet  inclosed  it  in  a  beautiful  case  and  sent  an  ambassa- 
dor with  it  to  Rome  to  present  it  to  Pope  Innocent  YIII. 

The  Crown  of  Thorns  was  given  to  St.  Louis  by  Baldwin,  both 
on  account  of  his  kindness  to  him,  and  the  friendly  sentiments  he 
entertained  for  him,  and  because  Constantinople  was  no  longer  a  safe 
place  for  it.  St.  Louis  with  his  mother-in-law,  his  brother,  and 
many  priests  and  members  of  his  court,  met  the  ambassadors  who 
carried  it  to  him  five  leagues  from  Sens.  St.  Louis  and  his  brother 
Robert  of  Artois  were  barefooted  and  in  their  shirts ;  thus  they  bore 
it  to  Sens  and  to  the  Cathedral  of  St.  Stephen ;  there  it  was  re- 
ceived with  great  ceremony.  It  was  taken  to  Paris  in  the  same 
manner,  and  Louis  built  for  its  reception  the  Sainte  Chapelle,  to 
which  was  attached  a  rich  foundation  for  a  chapter  of  canons.  St. 
Louis  also  received  the  portion  of  the  cross  which  was  at  Constanti- 
nople, and  other  relics  which  St.  Helena  had  given  her  son.  Some 
of  the  thorns  from  this  crown  have  been  given  to  other  churches, 
and  they  have  been  imitated  many  times.    They  are  very  long. 

The  Nails  of  the  cross  have  already  been  spoken  of.  These  have 
been  multiplied  by  imitation,  and  many  made  in  this  way  and  touched 
to  the  true  nail  were  considered  sacred. 

The  Pillar  to  which  Christ  was  bound  to  be  scourged,  or  a  portion 
of  it,  is  preserved  at  Jerusalem.  The  inscription  above  it  says  that 
it  was  placed  there  in  1223  by  Cardinal  Columna. 

The  Blood  of  Christ.  Alban  Butler  says  that  this  relic  "  which 
is  kept  in  some  places,  of  which  the  most  famous  is  that  of  Mantua, 
seems  to  be  what  has  sometimes  issued  from  the  miraculous  bleeding 
of  some  crucifix,  when  pierced  in  derision  by  Jews  or  Pagans,  in- 
stances of  which  are  recorded  in  authentic  histories.  Representa- 
tions of  all  these  different  relics,  of  circumstances  connected  with 
their  discovery,  of  the  ceremonies  which  have  taken  place  on  ac- 
count of  them  and  of  the  miracles  they  have  performed,  are  very  nu- 
merous in  works  of  art. 

St.  Umilita,  or  Humility,  was  the  wife  of  Ugolotto  Cacciane- 
mici  of  Faenza.  She  was  the  foundress  of  the  Yallombrosan  nuns. 
She  had  desired  to  remain  a  virgin,  but  was  compelled  to  marry  on 
account  of  the  avaricious  interests  of  her  family.  Her  husband  was 
also  virtuous  and  pious.  Not  long  after  their  marriage,  Rosane,  for 
this  was  her  name,  thus  addressed  her  husband,  "  Dost  thou  not  feel 
that  we  can  find  no  real  permanent  happiness  here  on  earth,  and 
should  we  not  aspire  to  that  peace  and  bUss  which  we  can  attain  in 
heaven  ?  Let  us  therefore,  separate  for  a  while,  and  in  the  silence  of 
some  cloister  make  a  sacrifice  of  ourselves  to  God,  for  our  country, 
our  kindred,  and  for  all  those  whom  we  love.  Time  fleets  by  with 
hghtning  speed,  and  we  shall  soon  be  reunited  in  the  kingdom  of 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


303 


heaven,  where  we  shall  enjoy  all  that  felicity  which  has  been  denied 
us  here  below."  Ugolotto  consented,  and  they  both  lived  strict  lives 
according  to  the  Yallombrosan  rule.  This  legend  has  been  illus- 
trated in  a  series  of  eleven  pictures  by  Bufalmacco.  One  of  them 
represents  Rosane  persuading  her  husband  to  the  separation.  Her 
face  is  alight  with  the  inspiration  of  the  project  of  self-sacrifice  she 
has  conceived,  while  that  of  Ugolotto  is  sad  at  the  thought  of  part- 
ing with  her. 

St.  Ursula,  and  her 
Virgin  Companions  (I^at, 
id. ;  Fi\  Sainte  Ursule  ; 
lial.  Santa  Irsola).  This 
legend,  which  from  its 
very  improbability  and 
surpassing  strangeness  is 
so  fascinating,  can  be 
traced  to  the  year  six  hun- 
dred. All  the  discussions 
as  to  its  signification,  have 
not  (happily)  changed 
the  legend,  and  the  Co- 
logne version  is  the  one 
followed  by  most  painters 
who  have  attempted  to 
depict  its  wonderful  inci- 
dents. The  manner  in 
which  this  legend  is  told 
is  so  charming  in  its 
quaintness  of  thought  and 
expression,  that  even 
when  I  consider  the  brev- 
ity that  is  here  desirable, 
I  cannot  find  it  in  my 
heart  to  do  other  than 
give  it  verbatim  et  literatim. 
"  Once  on  a  time  there 
reigned  in  Brittany  a  cer- 
tain king,  whose  name 
was  Theonotus,  and  he 
was  married  to  a  Sicilian 
princess,  whose  name  was 
Daria.  Both  were  Chris- 
tians,   and    they  were 

blessed  with  one  daughter,  (Bruges.    Hans  Hemling.)   St.  Ursula. 

whom  they  called  Ursula,  and  whom  they  educated  with  exceeding 
care.    When  Ursula  was  about  fifteen,  her  mother.  Queen  Daria, 


804 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


died,  leaving  the  king  almost  inconsolable ;  but  Ursula,  though  so 
young,  supplied  the  place  of  her  mother  in  the  court.    She  was  not 
only  wonderfully  beautiful,  and  gifted  with  all  the  external  graces  of 
her  sex,  but  accomplished  in  all  the  learning  of  the  time.  Her 
mind  was  a  perfect  storehouse  of  wisdom  and  knowledge :  she  had 
read  about  the  stars,  and  the  courses  of  the  winds ;  all  that  had 
ever  happened  in  the  world  from  the  days  of  Adam  she  had  by 
heart ;  the  poets  and  the  philosophers  were  to  her  what  childish 
recreations  are  to  others ;  but,  above  all,  she  was  profoundly  versed 
in  theology  and  school  divinity,  so  that  the  doctors  were  astonished 
and  confounded  by  her  argumentative  powers.    To  these  accomplish- 
ments were  added  the  more  excellent  gifts  of  humility,  piety,  and 
charity,  so  that  she  was  esteemed  the  most  accomplished  princess  of 
the  time.    Her  father,  who  loved  her  as  the  light  of  his  eyes,  de- 
sired nothing  better  than  to  keep  her  always  at  his  side.    But  the 
fame  of  her  beauty,  her  virtue,  and  her  wondrous  learning,  was 
spread  through  all  the  neighboring  lands,  so  that  many  of  the 
neighboring  princes  desired  her  in  marriage ;  but  Ursula  refused 
every  offer.    Not  far  from  Brittany,  on  the  other  side  of  the  great 
ocean,  was  a  country  called  England,  vast  and  powerful,  but  the  peo- 
ple were  still  in  the  darkness  of  paganism ;  and  the  king  of  this 
country  had  an  only  son,  whose  name  was  Conon,  as  celebrated  for 
his  beauty  of  person,  his  warlike  prowess,  and  jDhysical  strength,  as 
Ursula  for  her  piety,  her  graces,  and  her  learning.    He  was  now  old 
enough  to  seek  a  wife ;  and  his  father.  King  Agrippinus,  hearing  of 
the  great  beauty  and  virtue  of  Ursula,  sent  ambassadors  to  demand 
her  in  marriage  for  his  son.    When  the  ambassadors  arrived  at  the 
palace  of  the  King  of  Brittany,  they  were  very  courteously  received, 
but  the  king  was  secretly  much  embarrassed,  for  he  knew  that  his 
daughter  had  made  a  vow  of  perpetual  chastity,  having  dedicated 
herself  to  Christ ;  at  the  same  time  he  feared  to  offend  the  powerful 
monarch  of  England  by  refusing  his  request ;  therefore  he  delayed 
to  give  an  answer,  and,  having  commanded  the  ambassadors  to  be 
sumptuously  lodged  and  entertained,  he  retired  to  his  chamber,  and, 
leaning  his  head  on  his  hand,  he  meditated  what  was  best  to  be 
done  ;  but  he  could  think  of  no  help  to  deliver  him  from  this  strait. 
Wliile  thus  he  sat  apart  in  doubt  and  sadness,  the  princess  entered, 
and  learning  the  cause  of  his  melancholy,  she  said  with  a  smile, 
'  Is  this  all  ?    Be  of  good  cheer,  my  king  and  father !  for  if  it 
please  you,  I  will  myself  answer  these  ambassadors.'    And  her 
father  replied,  '  As  thou  wilt,  my  daughter.'     So  the  next  day, 
when  the  ambassadors  were  again  introduced,  St.  Ursula  was  seated 
on  a  throne  by  her  father's  side,  and,  having  received  and  returned 
their  salutations  with  unspeakable  grace  and  dignity,  she  thus  ad- 
dressed them :  *  I  thank  my  lord  the  King  of  England,  and  Conon 
his  princely  son,  and  his  noble  barons,  and  you,  sirs,  his  honorable 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


305 


ambassadors,  for  the  honor  ye  have  done  me,  so  much  greater  than 
my  deserving.  I  hold  myself  bound  to  your  king  as  to  a  second 
father,  and  to  the  prince  his  son  as  to  my  brother  and  bridegroom, 
for  to  no  other  will  I  ever  listen.  But  I  have  to  ask  three  things. 
First,  he  shall  give  for  me  as  my  ladies  and  companions  ten  virgins 
of  the  noblest  blood  in  his  kingdom,  and  to  each  of  these  a  thou- 
sand attendants,  and  to  me  also  a  thousand  maidens  to  wait  on  me. 
Secondly,  he  shall  permit  me  for  the  space  of  three  years  to  honor 
my  virginity,  and,  with  my  companions,  to  visit  the  holy  shrines 
where  repose  the  bodies  of  the  saints.  And  my  third  demand  is, 
that  the  prince  and  his  court  shall  receive  baptism ;  for  other  than  a 
perfect  Christian  I  cannot  wed.'  Now  you  shall  understand  that 
this  wise  princess,  Ursula,  made  these  conditions,  thinking  in  her 
heart,  '  either  the  King  of  England  will  refuse  these  demands,  or,  if 
he  grant  them,  then  eleven  thousand  virgins  are  redeemed  and  dedi- 
cated to  the  service  of  God.'  The  ambassadors,  being  dismissed 
with  honor,  returned  to  their  own  country,  where  they  made  such  a 
report  of  the  unequaled  beauty  and  wisdom  of  the  princess  that 
the  king  thought  no  conditions  too  hard,  and  the  prince  his  son  was 
inflamed  by  desire  to  obtain  her ;  so  he  commanded  himself  to  be 
forthwith  baptized  ;  and  the  king  wrote  letters  to  all  his  vassals  in 
his  kingdom  of  France,  in  Scotland,  and  in  the  province  of  Corn- 
wall, to  all  his  princes,  dukes,  counts,  barons,  and  noble  knights,  de- 
siring that  they  would  send  him  the  required  number  of  maidens, 
spotless  and  beautiful,  and  of  noble  birth,  to  wait  on  the  princess 
Ursula,  who  was  to  wed  his  heir  the  Prince  Conon ;  and  from  all 
parts  these  noble  virgins  came  trooping,  fair  and  accomplished  in  all 
female  learning,  and  attired  in  rich  garments,  wearing  jewels  of 
gold  and  silver.  Being  assembled  in  Brittany,  in  the  capital  of 
King  Theonotus,  Ursula  received  them  not  only  with  great  gladness 
and  courtesy,  but  with  a  sisterly  tenderness,  and  with  thanksgiving, 
praising  God  that  so  many  of  her  own  sex  had  been  redeemed  from 
the  world's  vanities ;  and  the  fame  of  this  noble  assembly  of  virgins 
having  gone  forth  to  all  the  countries  round  about,  the  barons  and 
knights  were  gathered  together  from  east  and  west  to  view  this 
spectacle,  and  you  may  think  how  much  they  were  amazed  and  edi- 
fied by  the  sight  of  so  much  beauty  and  so  much  devotion.  Now 
when  Ursula  had  collected  all  her  virgins  together,  on  a  fresh  and 
fair  morning  in  the  spring-time,  she  desired  them  to  meet  in  a 
meadow  near  the  city,  which  meadow  was  of  freshest  green,  all  over 
enameled  with  the  brightest  flowers ;  and  she  ascended  a  throne 
which  was  raised  in  the  midst,  and  preached  to  all  the  assembled 
virgins  of  things  concerning  the  glory  of  God,  and  of  his  Son,  our 
Lord  and  Saviour,  with  wonderful  eloquence ;  and  of  Christian 
charity,  and  of  a  pure  and  holy  life  dedicated  to  heaven.  And  all 
these  virgins,  being  moved  with  a  holv  zeal,  wept,  and,  lifting  up 
20 


306 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


their  hands  and  their  voices,  promised  to  follow  her  whithersoever 
she  should  lead.  And  she  blessed  them  and  comforted  them ;  and 
as  there  were  many  among  them  who  had  never  received  baptism, 
she  ordered  that  they  should  be  baptized  in  the  clear  stream  which 
flowed  through  that  flowery  meadow.  Then  Ursula  called  for  a  pen, 
and  wrote  a  letter  to  her  bridegroom,  the  son  of  the  King  of  Eng- 
land, saying,  that  as  he  had  complied  with  all  her  wishes  and  fulfilled 
all  her  demands,  he  had  good  leave  to  wait  upon  her  forthwith.  So 
he,  as  became  a  true  knight,  came  immediately ;  and  she  received 
him  with  great  honor;  and  in  presence  of  her  father,  she  said  to 
him,  '  Sir,  my  gracious  prince  and  consort,  it  has  been  revealed  to 
me  in  a  vision  that  I  must  depart  hence  on  my  pilgrimage  to  visit 
the  shrines  in  the  holy  city  of  Rome,  with  these  my  companions ; 
thou  meanwhile  shalt  remain  here  to  comfort  my  father  and  assist 
him  in  his  government  till  my  return ;  or,  if  God  should  dispose  of 
me  otherwise,  this  kingdom  shall  be  yours  by  right.'  Some  say 
that  the  prince  remained,  but  others  relate  that  he  accompanied  her 
on  her  voyage  ;  however  this  may  be,  the  glorious  virgin  embarked 
with  all  her  maidens  on  board  a  fleet  of  ships  prepared  for  them, 
and  many  holy  prelates  accompanied  them.  There  were  no  sailors 
on  board,  and  it  was  a  wonder  to  see  with  what  skill  these  wise  vir- 
gins steered  the  vessels  and  managed  the  sails,  being  miraculously 
taught ;  we  must,  therefore,  suppose  that  it  was  by  no  mistake  of 
theirs,  but  by  the  providence  of  God,  that  they  sailed  to  the  north 
instead  of  the  south,  and  were  driven  by  the  winds  into  the  mouth 
of  the  Rhine  as  far  as  the  port  of  Cologne.  Here  they  reposed  for 
a  brief  time,  during  which  it  was  revealed  to  St.  Ursula,  that  on  her 
return  she  and  her  companions  should  on  that  spot  suffer  martyrdom 
for  the  cause  of  God  ;  all  which  she  made  known  to  her  companions  ; 
and  they  all  together  lifted  up  their  voices  in  hymns  of  thanksgiving 
that  they  should  be  found  worthy  so  to  die.  So  they  proceeded  on 
their  voyage  up  the  river  till  they  came  to  the  city  of  Basil ;  there 
they  disembarked,  and  crossed  over  the  high  mountains  into  the 
plains  of  Liguria.  Over  the  rocks  and  snows  of  the  Alps  they  were 
miraculously  conducted ;  for  six  angels  went  before  them  perpetually, 
clearing  the  road  from  all  impediments,  throwing  bridges  over  the 
mountain  torrents,  and  every  night  pitching  tents  for  their  shelter 
and  refreshment.  So  they  came  at  length  to  the  river  Tiber,  and 
descending  the  river  they  reached  Rome,  that  famous  city,  where  is 
the  holy  shrine  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.  In  those  days  was  Cyria- 
cus  Bishop  of  Rome ;  he  was  famous  for  his  sanctity ;  and  hearing  of 
the  arrival  of  St.  Ursula  and  all  her  fair  and  glorious  company  of 
maidens,  he  was,  as  you  may  suppose,  greatly  amazed  and  troubled 
in  mind,  not  knowing  what  it  might  portend.  So  he  went  out  to 
meet  them,  with  all  his  clergy  in  procession.  When  St.  Ursula, 
kneeling  down  before  him,  explained  to  him  the  cause  of  her  coming, 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


307 


and  implored  his  blessing  for  herself  and  her  companions,  who  can 
express  his  admiration  and  contentment !  He  not  only  gave  them 
his  blessing,  but  commanded  that  they  should  be  honorably  lodged 
and  entertained  ;  and,  to  preserve  their  maidenly  honor  and  decorum, 
tents  were  pitched  for  them  outside  the  walls  of  the  city,  on  the 
plain  towards  Tivoli.  Now  it  happened  that  the  valiant  son  of  king 
Agrippinus,  who  had  been  left  in  Brittany,  became  every  day  more 
and  more  impatient  to  learn  some  tidings  of  his  princess-bride,  and 
at  length  he  resolved  to  set  out  in  search  of  her,  and,  by  a  miracle, 
he  had  arrived  in  the  city  of  Rome  on  the  self-same  day,  but  by  a 
different  route.  Being  happily  reunited,  he  knelt  with  Ursula  at  the 
feet  of  Cyriacus,  and  received  baptism  at  his  hands,  changing  his 
name  from  Conon  to  that  of  Ethereus,  to  express  the  purity  and 
regeneration  of  his  soul.  He  no  longer  aspired  to  the  possession  of 
Ursula,  but  fixed  his  hope  on  sharing  with  her  the  crown  of  martyr- 
dom on  earth,  looking  to  a  perpetual  reunion  in  heaven,  where  neither 
sorrow  nor  separation  should  touch  them  more.  After  this  blessed 
company  had  duly  performed  their  devotions  at  the  shrine  of  St. 
Peter  and  St.  Paul,  the  good  Cyriacus  would  fain  have  detained 
them  longer ;  but  Ursula  showed  him  that  it  was  necessary  they 
should  depart,  in  order  to  receive  the  crown  '  already  laid  up  for 
them  in  heaven.'  When  the  bishop  heard  this,  he  resolved  to  ac- 
company her.  In  vain  his  clergy  represented  that  it  did  not  become 
a  pope  of  Rome  and  a  man  of  venerable  years  to  run  after  a  company 
of  maidens,  however  immaculate  they  might  be.  Cyriacus  had  been 
counseled  by  an  angel  of  God,  and  he  made  ready  to  set  forth  and 
embark  with  them  on  the  river  Rhine.  Now  it  happened  that  there 
were  at  Rome  in  those  days  two  great  Roman  captains,  cruel  hea- 
thens, who  commanded  all  the  imperial  troops  in  Germania.  They, 
being  astonished  at  the  sight  of  this  multitude  of  virgins,  said  one 
to  the  other,  '  Shall  we  suffer  this  ?  If  we  allow  these  Christian 
maidens  to  return  to  Germania  they  will  convert  the  whole  nation ; 
or  if  they  marry  husbands,  then  they  will  have  so  many  children,  — 
no  doubt,  all  Christians, —  that  our  empire  will  cease  ;  therefore  let  us 
take  counsel  what  is  best  to  be  done.'  So  these  wicked  pagans  con- 
sulted together,  and  wrote  letters  to  a  certain  barbarian  king  of  the 
Huns,  who  was  then  besieging  Cologne,  and  instructed  him  what  he 
should  do.  Meantime  St.  Ursula  and  her  virgins,  with  her  husband 
and  his  faithful  knights,  prepared  to  embark ;  with  them  went  Pope 
Cyriacus,  and  in  his  train  Vincenzio  and  Giacomo,  cardinals ;  and 
Solfino,  Archbishop  of  Ravenna ;  and  Folatino,  Bishop  of  Lucca ; 
and  the  Bishop  of  Faenza,  and  the  patriarch  of  Grado,  and  many 
other  prelates ;  and  after  a  long  and  perilous  journey  they  arrived  in 
the  port  of  Cologne.  They  found  the  city  besieged  by  a  great  army 
of  barbarians  encamped  on  a  plain  outside  the  gates.  These  pagans, 
seeing  a  number  of  vessels  filled,  not  with  fierce  warriors,  but  beau- 


308 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


tiful  virgins,  unarmed  youths,  and  venerable  bearded  men,  stood  still 
at  first,  staring  with  amazement ;  but  after  a  short  pause,  remember- 
ing their  instructions,  they  rushed  upon  the  unresisting  victims. 
One  of  the  first  who  perished  was  Prince  Ethereus,  who  fell,  pierced 
through  by  an  arrow,  at  the  feet  of  his  beloved  princess.  Then 
Cyriacus,  the  cardinals,  and  several  barons,  sank  to  the  earth  or 
perished  in  the  stream.  When  the  men  were  dispatched,  the  fierce 
barbarians  rushed  upon  the  virgins  just  as  a  pack  of  gaunt  hungry 
wolves  might  fall  on  a  flock  of  milk-white  lambs.  Finding  that  the 
noble  virgins  resisted  their  brutality,  their  rage  was  excited,  and 
they  drew  their  swords  and  massacred  them  all.  Then  was  it  wor- 
thy of  all  admiration  to  behold  these  illustrious  virgins,  who  had 
struggled  to  defend  their  virtue,  now  meekly  resigned,  and  ready  as 
sheep  for  the  slaughter,  embracing  and  encouraging  each  other !  O, 
then  !  had  you  seen  the  glorious  St.  Ursula,  worthy  to  be  the  captain 
and  leader  of  this  army  of  virgin  martyrs,  how  she  flew  from  one  to 
the  other,  heartening  them  with  brave  words  to  die  for  their  faith 
and  honor !  Inspired  by  her  voice,  her  aspect,  they  did  not  quail, 
but  offered  themselves  to  death ;  and  thus  by  hundreds  and  by  thou- 
sands they  perished,  and  the  plain  was  strewed  with  their  limbs  and 
ran  in  rivers  with  their  blood.  But  the  barbarians  awed  by  the  maj- 
estic beauty  of  St.  Ursula,  had  no  power  to  strike  her,  but  carried 
her  before  their  prince,  who,  looking  on  her  with  admiration,  said  to 
her,  '  Weep  not,  for  though  thou  hast  lost  thy  companions,  I  will  be 
thy  husband,  and  thou  shalt  be  the  greatest  queen  in  all  Germany.* 
To  which  St.  Ursula,  all  glowing  with  indignation  and  a  holy  scorn, 
replied,  '•  O  thou  cruel  man  !  blind  and  senseless  as  thou  art  cruel  I 
thinkest  thou  I  can  weep  ?  Or  dost  thou  hold  me  so  base,  so  coward- 
ly, that  I  would  consent  to  survive  my  dear  companions  and  sisters  ? 
Thou  art  deceived,  O  son  of  Satan !  for  I  defy  thee,  and  him 
whom  thou  servest ! '  When  the  proud  pagan  heard  these  words, 
he  was  seized  with  fury,  and  bending  his  bow  which  he  held  in  his 
hand,  he  with  three  arrows  transfixed  her  pure  breast,  so  that  she 
fell  dead,  and  her  spirit  ascended  into  heaven,  with  all  the  glorious 
sisterhood  of  martyrs  whom  she  had  led  to  death,  and  with  her 
betrothed  husband  and  his  companions  :  and  there,  with  palms  in 
their  hands  and  crowns  upon  their  heads,  they  stand  around  the 
throne  of  Christ ;  and  live  in  his  light  and  in  his  approving  smile, 
blessing  Him  and  praising  Him  forever.  Amen  !  "  It  has  been  very 
troublesome  for  the  artists  who  have  represented  this  legend  to  de- 
vise any  means  by  which  they  could  represent  the  idea  of  the  eleven 
thousand  virgins,  and  in  spite  of  all  their  ingenuity,  several  thousands 
still  remain  to  whom  justice  has  never  been  done.  The  attributes 
of  St.  Ursula  are  the  crown  of  the  princess ;  the  staff*  of  the  pil- 
grim ;  the  arrow  as  a  martyr ;  the  white  banner  with  the  red  cross 
as  the  victorious  Christian ;  and  the  dove,  because  a  dove  disclosed 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


309 


her  burial  place  to  St.  Cunibert.  She  is  frequently  represented  as 
spreading  out  her  broad  mantle,  underneath  which  many  virgins  clus- 
ter. There  are  many  series  of  paintings  giving  the  scenes  of  her 
life.  Patroness  of  all  young  maidens ;  especially  of  school  girls  and 
of  such  women  as  instruct  the  young  of  their  own  sex.    October  21. 

St.  Valerian.    See  St.  Cecilia. 

St.  Valerie.    See  St.  Martial. 

Vera  Icon,  The.    See  St.  Veronica. 

St.  Verdiana  is  seen  in  Florentine  pictures.  She  is  in  the  habit 
of  a  Vallombrosan  nun,  and  bears  a  basket  from  which  serpents  feed. 
A.  D.  1222. 

St.  Veronica  {ltd.  Santa  Veronica;    Fr,  Sainte  Veronique). 

There  are  two  quite  dif- 
ferent legends  concerning 
this  saint.  The  most 
ancient  relates  that  she 
was  the  woman  who 
was  healed  by  touching 
Christ's  garment,  and 
that  she  greatly  desired 
a  picture  of  his  face. 
She  first  took  a  cloth  to 
St.  Luke  and  he  painted 
a  picture  that  both  he 
and  Veronica  thought  to 
be  like  Christ,  but  when 
next  she  saw  him,  she 
found  his  face  quite  dif- 
ferent. Then  the  Sa- 
viour said  to  her,  Un- 
less I  come  to  your  help, 
all  Luke's  art  is  in  vain, 
for  my  face  is  known 
only  to  Him  who  sent  me."  Then  he  told  her  to  go  to  her  house 
and  prepare  him  a  meal,  and  before  the  day  ended  he  would  come 
to  her.  Veronica  did  this  joyfully,  and  when  Christ  came  he  first 
desired  water  to  wash.  Veronica  gave  him  this  with  a  cloth  whereon 
to  wipe.  He  pressed  the  cloth  to  his  face  and  his  image  remained 
on  it.  He  then  gave  it  to  Veronica  saying,  "  This  is  like,  me,  and 
will  do  great  things."  About  this  time  the  Emperor  of  Rome  was 
ill  of  a  dreadful  disease.  Some  say  it  was  Vespasian,  and  others 
Tiberius  ;  that  he  had  worms  in  his  head,  or  a  wasp's  nest  in  his 
nose.  It  was  a  fearful  sight.  Now  the  emperor  hears  that  a  great 
physician  performs  wonderful  cures  in  Judaea.  So  he  sends  his  mes- 
sengers to  Jerusalem  and  finds  that  Jesus,  the  physician,  had  been 
slain  three  years  before.    Then  Pilate  is  filled  with  alarm  and  ac- 


( Andrea  Sacchi.)    St.  Veronica. 


310 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


cuses  tlie  Jews  of  the  deed,  while  they  in  turn,  make  him  responsible 
for  it.  Then  the  messenger  inquires  for  the  followers  of  Jesus,  and 
at  last  Veronica  is  brought  to  him.  He  then  desires  to  see  the  por- 
trait. At  first  she  denies  having  it,  but  at  length  acknowledges  that 
she  treasures  it  with  great  care,  and  brings  it  to  him.  The  messen- 
ger desires  to  take  it  to  Rome,  but  she  will  not  consent  except  she 
goes  also.  They  therefore  depart,  and  arrive  after  a  very  short  and 
prosperous  voyage.  When  all  is  explained  to  him  of  the  death  of 
Jesus,  the  miracle  of  the  picture,  and  the  powers  it  has,  the  em- 
peror regards  it  believing,  and  is  healed.  Pilate,  who  has  been  brought 
to  Rome,  is  then  cast  into  prison  ;  he  kills  himself  and  his  body 
is  thrown  into  the  Tiber,  where  demons  attack  it.  Then  the  em- 
peror determines  to  avenge  the  death  of  Christ  upon  Jerusalem.  He 
besieges  the  city,  and  so  many  Jews  are  slain,  that  they  cannot  be 
buried.  Captives  are  crucified,  the  thieves  who  divided  the  gar- 
ments of  Jesus  are  cut  in  quarters,  and  many  are  sold  for  thirty 
pence  each.  Now  this  cloth,  which  is  the  subject  of  this  legend,  is 
the  "  Yolto  Santo,"  or  "  God's  image,"  and  these  words  were  used  as 
an  imprecation  in  the  Middle  Ages.  Vera  Icon,  another  name  for  it, 
signifies,  "  The  Sacred  Picture,"  and  is  the  same  as  the  name  of  the 
saint,  and  in  fact  the  picture  is  sometimes  called  a  Veronica." 
It  is  well  to  compare  this  legend  with  that  of  King  Abgarus,  as  they 
probably  came  from  the  same  source,  and  are  very  likely  different 
versions  of  one  legend.  The  later  legend  of  St.  Veronica  does  not 
make  her  the  healed  woman,  but  merely  a  woman  of  Jerusalem 
whose  house  Christ  passed  when  bearing  his  cross.  Seeing  his  suf- 
ferings she  pitied  him,  and  gave  him  her  veil  to  wipe  his  brow. 
Wlien  he  returned  it  to  her  it  was  impressed  with  the  sacred  image. 
This  is  recognized  by  the  Roman  Church.  The  house  of  St.  Veron- 
ica is  shown  at  Jerusalem  on  the  Via  Dolorosa.  This  last  legend 
also  takes  Veronica  to  Rome,  but  the  emperor  has  died  before  her 
arrival,  and  she  remains  with  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  and  at  last  suf- 
fers martyrdom  under  Nero.  Still  another  version  makes  her  go  to 
Europe  with  Lazarus  and  his  sisters,  and  suffer  death  in  Provence  or 
Aquitaine.  The  image  is'  the  Vera  Icon,  or  the  true  image,  and  the 
cloth  is  the  Sudarium.  (Jtal.  II  Sadario  ;  Fr.  Le  Saint  Suaire.)  A 
chapel  in  St.  Peter's  at  Rome  is  dedicated  to  this  saint,  and  there  is 
kept  an  image  painted  on  linen,  and  regarded  by  the  people  as  the 
veritable  Vera  Icon.  St.  Veronica  is  unmistakable  in  art,  as  she  is 
represented  holding  the  napkin.  The  festival  of  St.  Veronica  {Fr. 
La  Sainte  Face  de  J.  C.)  is  held  on  Shrove  Tuesday. 

St.  Victor  of  Marseilles  (Jtal  San  Vittore)  was  a  soldier  under 
Diocletian  and  suffered  martyrdom  in  the  tenth  persecution.  He 
endured  terrible  tortures  with  wonderful  strength  and  devotion.  In 
the  midst  of  them  a  miniature  altar  was  brought  him  on  which  to 
sacrifice  to  Jupiter  and  thus  save  himself,  but  lie  dashed  down  the 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART.  311 

image  and  destroyed  it.  He  was  then  crushed  with  a  millstone  and 
afterwards  beheaded.    When  he  died  angels  were  heard  to  sing, 

Yicisti,  Victor  beate,  vicisti !  "  He  is  represented  as  a  Roman 
soldier  with  a  millstone  near  him.    July  21,  a.  d.  303. 

St.  Victor  of  Milan  {Ital  San  Yittore)  was  another  Roman  sol- 
dier who  suffered  also  in  the  tenth  persecution.  He  was  a  native  of 
Mauritania  but  suffered  at  Milan,  where  there  is  a  church  dedicated  to 
him.  He  is  the  favorite  military  saint  of  N'orthern  Italy.  It  is  said 
that  he  was  thrown  into  a  heated  oven,  and  an  oven  with  flames 
bursting  out,  is  sometimes  near  him  in  pictures,  but  he  is  more  fre- 
quently represented  as  the  Victorious,  sometimes  on  horseback,  and 
always  in  the  dress  of  a  soldier.    May  8,  A.  d.  303. 

St.  Vincent,  Deacon  and  Martyr  {Lat.  S.  Vincentius  Levita ;  ItaL 
San  Vincenzio  Diacono,  San  Vincenzino  ;  Fr.  Saint  Vincent).  The 
principal  facts  concerning  this  saint  are  so  established  by  good 
authorities  that  they  cannot  be  denied,  but  imagination  has  had 
great  license  in  the  legend,  as  it  is  illustrated  by  those  who  paint; 
whether  it  be  with  brush  or  pen,  artist  or  poet.  It  is  as  follows  :  — 
Vincent  was  born  in  Saragossa.  At  the  time  of  the  terrible  perse- 
cution under  Diocletian  he  was  about  twenty  years  old,  and  already 
a  deacon.  The  proconsul  Dacian  caused  all  the  Christians  of  Sara- 
gossa to  be  brought  together,  with  a  promise  of  immunity,  and  then 
ordered  them  all  to  be  massacred.  St.  Vincent  did  all  in  his  power 
to  encourage  and  sustain  the  people  of  God,  and  at  length  was  him- 
self arrested,  and  brought  before  the  tribunal.  With  him  was  his 
bishop,  Valerius.  When  they  were  accused  Valerius  answered  first ; 
but  he  had  an  impediment  in  his  speech,  and  was  moreover  old  and 
feeble,  so  that  his  answers  were  almost  unintelligible ;  then  Vincent 
exclaimed,  "  How  is  this,  my  father  ?  canst  thou  not  speak  aloud,  and 
defy  this  pagan  dog  !  Speak,  that  all  the  world  may  hear ;  or  suffer 
me,  who  am  only  thy  servant,  to  speak  in  thy  stead  !  "  When  the 
bishop,  therefore,  gave  him  leave,  he  proclaimed  his  faith  aloud,  and 
defied  all  tortures  and  sufferings.  Then  was  Dacian  very  wroth, 
and  he  commanded  that  the  young  man  should  be  reserved  to  the 
tortures,  but  the  old  man  be  only  sentenced  to  banishment  from  the 
city.  The  most  fearful  tortures  were  invented  for  Vincent,  to  which 
he  submitted  with  miraculous  strength.  Prudentius  says,  in  his  cele- 
brated hymn  to  St.  Lawrence,  "  When  his  body  was  lacerated  by  iron 
forks,  he  only  smiled  on  his  tormentors ;  the  pangs  they  inflicted 
were  to  him  delights ;  thorns  were  his  roses ;  the  flames  a  refreshing 
bath ;  death  itself  was  but  the  entrance  to  life."  After  his  terrible 
sufferings  they  laid  him  on  the  floor  of  his  dungeon  strewed  with 
potsherds ;  but  angels  came  and  ministered  to  him,  and  when  his 
jailers  looked  in  they  beheld  the  place  filled  with  celestial  light,  and 
a  sweet  perfume  came  out  from  it;  they  heard  the  songs  of  angels, 
in  which  Vincent  joined  with  thanksgiving  ;  and  he  called  to  the 


312 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


jailers  to  come  in  and  partake  of  his  bliss.  And  then  they  fell  on 
their  knees  and  were  converted.  After  this,  Dacian  being  convinced 
that  tortures  could  not  conquer  his  spirit,  resolved  to  try  the  seduc- 
tions of  luxury.  He  had  him  placed  on  a  bed  strewn  with  roses  ; 
liis  friends  were  admitted  to  him,  and  everything  was  done  to  ease 
his  pain.  But  no  sooner  was  this  done  than  he  died,  and  angels  bore 
his  soul  to  glory.  Then  the  furious  Dacian  ordered  his  body  to  be 
thrown  to  the  wild  beasts;  but  God  sent  a  raven  to  guard  them,  and 
they  remained  untouched  for  many  days.  Then  the  Consul  com- 
manded that  it  should  be  sewed  up  in  an  ox  hide,  as  was  done  to 
the  bodies  of  parricides,  and  thrown  into  the  sea.  So  it  was  thus 
prepared  and  carried  out  in  a  boat,  and  thrown  over  with  a  mill- 
stone attached  to  it ;  but  lo,  when  the  boatmen  reached  the  shore 
it  was  returned  before  them,  and  lay  upon  the  sands  1  Then  they 
ran  away  terrified,  and  the  waves  hollowed  out  a  grave  and  buried 
it.  Here  it  remained  for  many  years,  until  at  last  it  was  miracu- 
lously revealed  to  certain  Christians  of  Valencia,  where  he  was  buried, 
and  they  removed  him  to  their  own  city.  When  the  Christians  of 
Valencia  fled  from  the  Moors,  they  bore  with  them  these  sacred  relics. 
The  vessel  in  which  they  were  was  driven  upon  a  promontory  on  the 
coast  of  Portugal,  where  they  stopped,  and  interred  the  body,  and 
that  point  has  been  called  Cape  St.  Vincent  from  that  day.  Here 
too  the  ravens  guarded  the  remains,  and  a  portion  of  the  cape  is 
called  in  remembrance  of  them,  el  Monte  de  las  Cuervas."  When 
in  the  year  1147,  Alonzo  I.  removed  the  remains  to  Lisbon,  two 
crows  accompanied  the  vessel,  one  at  the  prow  and  one  at  the  stern ; 
these  crows  multiplied  greatly  in  Lisbon,  until  rents  were  assigned 
to  the  chapter  for  their  support.  Vincent  has  been  surnamed  the 
Invincible,  both  on  account  of,  his  character  and  the  signification  of 
his  name.  St.  Vincent  is  represented  as  young  and  beautiful,  in  a 
deacon^s  dress,  and  his  proper  attribute  is  a  crow  or  raven.  Patron 
of  Lisbon,  Valencia,  and  Saragossa  ;  of  Milan  ;  of  Chalons,  and  many 
other  places  in  France.    January  22,  a.  d.  304. 

St.  Vincent  Ferraris  was  born  at  Valencia  in  1357.  His 
parents  denied  themselves  greatly  in  order  to  educate  him  and  his 
brother  Boniface.  He  was  a  Dominican,  and  took  the  habit  when 
only  eighteen.  He  became  one  of  the  most  celebrated  preachers  and 
missionaries.  He  went  all  through  Spain,  Italy,  and  France,  and  by 
invitation  of  Henry  IV.  to  England.  He  so  moved  the  hearts  of  his 
hearers  that  he  was  often  obliged  to  pause  that  the  sobbing  and  weep- 
ing might  subside.  He  did  many  miracles,  and  it  is  related  that 
when  he  preached  in  Latin,  he  was  understood  by  all  who  heard  him, 
of  whatever  nation,  learned  or  unlearned.  He  spent  the  last  two 
years  of  his  life  in  Brittany  and  Normandy,  and  died  at  Vannes. 
Jeanne  de  France,  Duchess  of  Brittany,  washed  his  body,  and  pre- 
pared it  for  the  grave  with  her  own  hands.    His  proper  attribute  is 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


313 


the  crucifix,  which  he  holds  aloft  in  reference  to  his  labors  as  mis- 
sionary. He  sometimes  has  wings  as  symbols  of  his  fervor,  but  with 
the  Dominican  habit  they  have  a  strange  effect.  April  5,  a.  d. 
1419. 

St.  Vincent  de  Paule,  who,  as  a  saint,  is  so  popular  in  Paris, 
should  as  a  man  be  highly  venerated  everywhere.  He  was  born  in 
1576,  at  Puy,  in  Gascony.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  he  tended  the 
flocks.  But  his  temper  was  so  sweet,  and  his  mind  so  active,  that 
his  father  desired  an  education  for  him ;  so  he  was  sent  to  a  convent 
of  Cordeliers,  and  assumed  the  habit  of  the  Franciscans  when  twenty 
years  old.  He  was  sent  to  Marseilles,  and  when  returning  by  sea, 
was  seized  by  African  pirates  and  carried  into  slavery.  He  remained 
thus  two  years,  and  had  several  masters.  The  wife  of  the  last  one 
pitied  him,  and  when  she  spoke  to  him  was  charmed  by  his  conversa- 
tion. One  day  she  asked  him  to  sing,  and  he  bursting  into  tears, 
sang,  "  By  the  waters  of  Babylon,  we  sat  down  and  wept,"  and  then 
the  glorious  Salve  Regina."  This  woman  was  converted,  and  in  her 
turn  preached  to  her  husband,  who  also  received  the  truth.  Then 
they  all  escaped,  and  came  to  Aiguesmortes.  Vincent  placed  his 
companions  in  a  religious  house,  and  went  himself  to  Rome,  from 
which  place  he  was  sent  by  the  pope  to  Paris.  This  was  in  1609. 
He  had  been  greatly  moved  at  the  sight  of  the  sufferings  of  the 
galley  slaves.  He  had  been  in  captivity.  He  was  not  able  to  do 
much  for  them,  but  he  preached,  and  comforted  them  as  much  as 
possible.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  Magdalenes  of  Paris, 
and  founded  the  hospital  of  La  Madaleine."  He  also  founded  the 
Order  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  and  established  a  foundling  hospital. 
This  is  no  place  to  speak  of  all  the  good  he  thus  did,  and  indeed, 
who  can  tell  it  ?  He  was  a  friend  of  Richelieu,  until  his  death.  He 
was  called  to  the  side  of  Louis  XIII.  in  his  last  moments.  During 
the  wars  of  the  Fronde,  he  ministered  to  the  sufferers ;  and  greatly 
desired  to  do  something  for  the  Catholics  of  Ireland,  who  were  then 
suffering  great  oppression.  In  short  he  has  been  named  by  general 
consent,  "  LTntendant  de  la  Providence  et  Pere  des  Pauvres."  He 
died  at  St.  Lazare.  He  is  represented  in  the  Franciscan  habit,  with 
a  new-born  infant  in  his  arms,  and  a  Sister  of  Charity  kneeling 
before  him.    July  19,  A.  D.  1660. 

St.  Vitalis  of  Ravenna,  was  the  father  of  SS.  Gervasius  and 
Protasius.  He  was  condemned  to  be  buried  alive  for  having  taken 
up  and  cared  for  the  body  of  a  Christian  martyr.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  army  of  Nero,  and  had  been  converted  by  the  preaching  of 
St.  Peter.  His  wife,  Valeria,  fled  with  her  two  sons  to  Milan.  The 
church  dedicated  to  him,  and  erected  over  the  spot  where  he  was 
buried,  is  a  remarkable  monument  of  Byzantine  architecture.  The 
fame  of  this  saint  extended  all  over  Europe.  He  is  represented  as  a 
soldier  with  the  martyr's  crown,  and  sometimes  on  a  white  charger, 
with  the  standard  of  victory.    April  28  ;  about  62. 


314 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


St.  Vitus  (Ital.  San  Yito ;  Fr.  St.  Yite  or  St.  Guy ;  Ger.  Der 
Heilige  Yeit,  Yit.  or  Yitus)  was  the  son  of  a  noble  Sicilian,  wlio 
was  a  pagan,  but  the  nurse  and  foster-father  of  Yitus  were  secretly 
Christians,  and  they  brought  him  up  in  the  faith,  and  had  him  bap- 
tized. When  only  twelve  years  old,  he  declared  himself  a  Christian, 
which  so  enraged  his  father  and  the  governor,  that  they  attempted  to 
compel  him  to  retract.  They  shut  him  in  a  dungeon  after  beating 
him ;  but  when  his  father  looked  through  the  key-hole,  he  saw  him 
dancing  with  seven  beautiful  angels,  and  so  dazzling  was  the  sight 
that  the  father  was  made  blind,  and  only  restored  to  sight  at  the 
intercession  of  his  son.  Again  after  this  he  persecuted  Yitus,  and 
he  fled  with  his  nurse  and  her  husband  in  a  boat  which  was  steered 
by  an  angel  to  Italy.  But  here  they  were  again  accused  as  Chris- 
tians, and  were  thrown  into  a  cauldron  of  boiling  oil.  He  is  repre- 
sented as  a  beautiful  boy.  He  has  many  attributes  :  the  palm  ;  the 
cauldron  of  oil ;  a  lion,  because  he  was  once  exposed  to  them  ;  a  wolf, 
because  his  remains  were  guarded  by  one ;  and  a  cock,  the  reason  of 
which  is  not  known  ;  but  on  account  of  which  he  is  invoked  against 
too  much  sleep.  He  is  one  of  the  fourteen  Noth-helfers  or  patron 
saints  of  Germany.  Patron  saint  of  dancers  and  actors;  and  is  in- 
voked against  the  nervous  disease,  St.  Yitus'  dance.  Patron  of  Sax- 
ony, Bohemia,  and  Sicily.    June  15,  A.  D.  303. 

St.  Walburga,  whose  Anglo-Saxon  name  is  the  same  as  the 
Greek  Eucharis,  and  signifies  "  gracious,"  is  also  called  Walpurgis, 
Walbourg,  Yalpurge,  Gualbourg,  and  Avangour.  When  her  uncle, 
St.  Boniface,  and  her  brother,  St.  Willibald,  determined  to  take  a 
company  of  religious  women  from  England  to  the  continent,  to  assist 
in  teaching  the  pagans,  Walburga  left  the  convent  of  Winburn, 
where  she  had  lived  twenty-seven  years,  and  went  with  ten  other 
nuns  to  Mayence.  She  was  afterwards  made  first  abbess  of  the  con- 
vent of  Heidenheim.  After  the  death  of  Willibald,  on  account  of 
her  learning  and  talents  she  was  called  to  Eichstadt,  and  governed 
the  two  communities  there ;  the  monks  as  well  as  the  nuns.  She 
wrote  a  history  of  her  brother  in  Latin.  She  had  studied  medicine, 
and  did  some  wonderful  cures.  After  her  death,  she  was  entombed 
in  a  rock  near  Eichstadt,  from  which  exuded  a  bituminous  oil.  For 
a  long  time  the  people  about  believed  this  oil  to  proceed  from  the 
remains  of  the  saint,  and  it  was  called  Walj^urgis  oil,  and  thought 
to  effect  wonderful  cures.  The  cave  became  a  place  of  pilgrimage, 
and  a  church  was  built  on  the  spot.  On  the  night  of  her  festival, 
Walpurgis'  night,  the  witches  held  their  orgies  at  Blocksberg.  Her 
chief  festival  is  on  the  first  of  May.  She  is  represented  in  the  Bene- 
dictine habit  with  a  crosier,  and  a  flask ;  the  latter  a  symbol  of  the 
Walpurgis  oil.    May  1  ;  about  778. 

Wandering  Jew,  The.  This  legend  is  given  in  several  different 
ways.    According  to  Matthew  Paris,  an  Armenian  archbishop  came 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


315 


to  England  to  visit  its  shrines,  and  was  entertained  at  the  monastery 
of  St.  Albans.  He  was  questioned  in  regard  to  his  own  country  and 
his  travels,  and  was  asked  if  he  had  ever  known  anything  of  a 
miraculous  person  who  was  present  at  the  crucifixion  of  Christ,  and 
who  still  lived.  The  archbishop  testified  that  it  was  true  that  such 
a  man  lived,  and  that  he  knew  him  well.  He  said  he  had  been  the 
porter  of  Pontius  Pilate,  and  was  named  Cartaphilus.  When  the 
Jews  were  dragging  Jesus  from  the  judgment  hall,  Cartaphilus  struck 
him  with  his  fist,  saying,  "  Go  faster,  Jesus,  go  faster,  why  dost  thou 
linger  ?  "  Then  Jesus  turned  and  said,  "  I  indeed  am  going,  but 
thou  shalt  tarry  till  I  come."  Afterwards  he  was  converted,  and 
baptized  by  the  name  of  Joseph.  At  the  end  of  every  century  he 
falls  ill,  and  is  incurable  ;  at  length  he  goes  into  a  fit  of  ecstasy,  and 
when  he  comes  out  of  it  he  is  the  same  age  that  he  was  when  Christ 
died,  which  was  about  thirty.  He  is  a  grave  and  holy  man.  He 
remembers  all  the  circumstances  of  the  crucifixion,  the  resurrection, 
and  ascension  ;  of  the  composing  of  the  Apostles'  Creed,  and  their 
separation  when  they  went  forth  to  preach. 

Another  legend  gives  his  name  as  Ahasuerus,  and  relates  that  as 
Jesus  was  bearing  his  cross  he  stopped  before  his  door  to  rest,  and 
Ahasuerus  drove  him  away  with  curses.  Then  Jesus  told  him  that 
he  should  wander  until  he  came  to  judgment ;  and  ever  since  he 
wanders,  bowed  down  with  grief  and  remorse,  and  unable  to  find  a 
grave. 

St.  Wenceslaus  of  Bohemia.    See  St.  Ludmilla. 

St.  Werburga  figures  among  the  early  Benedictine  saints  in 
England.  She  was  abbess  of  Kepandum,  and  had  jurisdiction  over 
monks  as  well  as  nuns.  She  was  the  niece  of  St.  Ethelreda,  and 
was  brought  up  with  her  at  Ely.  She  founded  several  monasteries, 
and  had  the  care  of  them  besides  that  of  Repton, —  Weedon,  Trent- 
ham,  and  Hanbury.  The  Cathedral  of  Chester  was  dedicated  to  her 
in  800,  and  a  part  of  her  shrine  now  supports  a  pew  erected  for  the 
bishop  of  the  diocese.    About  708. 

St.  William  of  Aquitaine.    See  St.  Benedict  of  Anian. 

St.  Zeno  of  Verona,  was  bishop  of  that  city  in  the  fourth 
century,  and  was  remarkable  for  the  wisdom  with  which  he  governed 
his  diocese  during  those  troublous  times.  He  is  represented  in  one 
picture  holding  a  long  fishing-rod,  and  the  legend  of  Yerona  says, 
he  was  fond  of  fishing  in  the  Adige ;  but  it  is  quite  probable  that  the 
fish  which  hangs  from  the  line,  is  symbolical  of  baptism.  It  is  doubt- 
ful whether  he  was  martyred,  although  he  is  said  to  have  been,  by 
Julian  the  Apostate.  It  is  related  that  King  Pepin  desired  to  be 
buried  in  the  same  grave  with  St.  Zeno,  so  great  was  his  esteem  for 
him.     April  12,  A.  D.  380. 

St.  Zenobio  of  Florence  was  the  son  of  noble  parents,  Lucian 
and  Sophia,  but  they  were  pagans.    He  was  born  in  the  last  year  of 


316 


LEGENDS  AND  STORIES 


tlie  reign  of  Constantine.  He  was  converted  while  at  school,  and 
succeeded  in  converting  his  parents.  He  lived  in  Rome,  and  was 
a  deacon,  and  the  secretary  of  Pope  Damasus  I.  He  was  sent  to 
Florence  in  a  time  of  great  distraction,  but  both  Catholics  and  Arlans 


desired  to  have  him  for  their  bishop.  He  restored  to  life  a  man  who 
had  fallen  down  a  mountain  precipice,  when  on  the  way  to  bring 
some  sacred  relics  to  him,  sent  by  St.  Ambrose.  A  lady  on  her  way 
to  Rome  stopped  at  Florence,  to  see  this  good  man  of  whom  she  had 
heard  much,  and  she  left  her  son  in  his  care  until  she  should  return. 
The  day  before  her  return  the  child  died,  but  when  she  took  it  and 
laid  it  at  the  feet  of  St.  Zenobio,  he  restored  it  to  life.    He  led  a 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


317 


most  holy  life,  and  died  in  the  reign  of  Honorius.  When  he  was 
being  borne  to  his  grave  the  people  so  pressed  about  his  bier  that 
in  the  Piazza  del  Duomo  his  body  was  thrown  against  the  trunk  of 
an  elm  that  was  withered.  It  immediately  put  forth  buds  and  leaves. 
He  is  represented  in  his  episcopal  robes ;  his  attribute  is  frequently 
a  tree  which  is  putting  forth  leaves.    May  25,  A.  d.  417. 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


Adolphseck  was  the  name  of  a  castle  at  Eiclithal  near  Scliwal- 
bach,  built  by  Adolphus  of  Nassau.  This  legend  is  not  entirely  his- 
torical, but  gives  a  good  picture  of  the  romance  of  love  and  the 
sorrows  of  war,  mingled  as  they  so  frequently  were  during  the  ad- 
venturous Middle  Ages.  A  war  had  broken  out  between  France 
and  Germany.  The  Bishop  of  Strasbourg  made  a  traitorous  league 
with  the  French  king.  He  then  challenged  the  Emperor  of  Ger- 
many. Adolphus  of  Nassau,  who  was  a  brave  soldier  and  an  excel- 
lent commander,  entered  Alsace  to  punish  this  treachery.  His  ardor 
carried  him  too  far,  as  it  had  often  done,  and  he  so  exposed  himself 
to  danger  that  he  was  borne  wounded  from  the  field,  and  taken  to  a 
convent.  Here  he  was  nursed  by  a  novice,  Imagina,  whose  lovely 
face  and  tender  gentleness  robbed  the  Duke  of  his  heart  while  her 
devoted  care  restored  him  to  health  and  strength.  When  she  was 
near  him  his  soul  was  soothed  into  an  unutterable  calm.  At  length 
he  declared  to  her  his  love.  Imagina  made  no  answer,  but  withdrew 
from  his  sight,  weeping.  Then  three  days  passed,  and  she  returned 
not.  When  summoned  to  perform  her  accustomed  duties  she  de- 
clared herself  sick.  Alas  !  how  truly,  for  who  are  more  sick  than 
those  whose  hearts  are  tortured  by  the  soul  struggles  between  love 
and  duty,  even  though  the  latter  be,  as  in  this  case,  imaginary  ? 
In  these  three  days  Adolphus  heartily  repented  the  rashness  of  his 
declaration,  and  could  neither  rest  or  sleep.  At  last,  in  the  middle 
of  the  third  night  his  door  opened  noiselessly  and  Imagina  entered, 
disturbed  with  painful  emotion,  but  far  more  lovely  in  her  expressive 
grief  than  when  calm  and  peaceful  as  she  was  wont  to  be.  "  Fly  !  I 
beseech  you,  my  prince  !  "  exclaimed  she  ;  "  the  Bishop  of  Strasbourg 
is  at  hand  to  make  you  his  prisoner.  You  have  not  a  moment  to 
lose  I  "  The  emperor  rose  hastily  and  dispatched  his  servant  to 
warn  the  commander  of  his  troops.  Then  he  proceeded  with  Imag- 
ina, through  the  deserted,  echoing  corridors  of  the  convent,  into  the 
church  and  to  a  small  door  of  which  the  maiden  had  obtained  the 
key.  "  Heaven  be  praised,  and  the  Blessed  Virgin  also,  that  she 
has  heard  my  prayer,  and  you  are  saved  !  "  murmured  the  maiden. 
Farewell,  most  noble  prince  !    God  grant  thee  happiness  1    Do  not 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


319 


forget  Imagina,"  and  she  was  about  to  leave  him.  But  Adolphus 
detained  her,  and  declaring  that  life  without  her  was  valueless, 
begged  even  on  his  knees,  that  she  would  fly  with  him  and  be  his 
bride  rather  than  that  of  Heaven.  She  could  not  refuse,  and 
wrapped  in  cloak  and  hood  she  followed  her  lover  to  the  Rhine, 
which  they  were  soon  able  to  cross  in  safety.  Adolphus  shortly 
after  concluded  a  peace  with  France,  and  built  the  Castle  of  Adolph- 
seck  in  which  to  dwell  with  his  faithful  Imagina.  Here  they  lived 
happily,  but  the  unrestful  spirit  of  the  age  soon  made  it  necessary 
for  the  emperor  to  take  the  field  again  in  order  to  retain  his  crown. 
Imagina  followed  her  husband,  and  awaited  him  at  the  Convent  of 
Rosenthal.  The  battle  took  place  at  GoUheim  near  Donnersberg. 
Adolphus  was  forgetful  of  all  save  the  duty  of  a  soldier,  and  rashly 
risked  his  life.  He  fell  pierced  with  a  lance.  Thus  Albert  of  Aus- 
tria was  made  emperor.  Imagina  had  listened  with  heavy  heart  to 
the  resounding  war-cries,  and  when  at  night  her  husband  came  not, 
she  went  to  seek  him.  As  she  passed  over  the  battle-field,  its 
ghastly  scenes,  disclosed  by  the  pale  moon,  filled  her  with  fear  and 
horror.  At  length  the  hound  of  Adolphus  ran  to  her  and  led  her 
to  his  master.  He  was  carried  to  the  Convent  of  Rosenthal  and 
there  interred,  and  in  his  grave,  not  only  his  dead  body,  but  the  liv- 
ing heart  of  Imagina  was  buried.  She  took  the  veil,  and  was  not 
long  separated  from  him  she  loved ;  for  Death  soon  comes  to  the 
release  of  those  whose  hearts  he  has  already  broken.  The  Castle  of 
Adolphseck  was  destroyed  by  the  new  emperor,  and  a  cross  erected 
by  his  command  on  the  spot  where  Adolphus  died. 

Aix-Ia-Chapelle.  "  The  Foandation  of  the  City:'  The  Emperor 
Charlemagne  governed  an  immense  empire,  and  he  moved  about  in 
it,  living  sometimes  in  one  portion  and  again  in  another,  in  order 
that  he  might  make  himself  acquainted  with  all  his  subjects  and 
understand  their  hearts  and  their  necessities ;  and  to  this  end  he 
was  always  accessible  to  all  who  desired  to  see  him.  At  one  time 
he  held  his  court  at  Zurich,  and  had  erected  there  a  column  upon 
which  was  fastened  a  small  bell,  and  any  who  wished  to  see  the 
emperor  had  but  to  ring  it  and  he  would  himself  appear.  One  day 
the  bell  was  rung,  but  when  Charlemagne  came  to  the  place  there 
was  no  person  in  sight.  Again  on  the  following  day  the  same  thing 
occurred.  Then  the  emperor  set  a  servant  to  watch,  where  he 
could  not  be  seen,  and  his  surprise  cannot  be  imagined  when  he  saA\ 
an  immense  serpent  issue  from  a  cave  near  by  and  ring  the  bell. 
Charlemagne,  who  was  dining,  was  told  of  this,  and  he  immediately 
left  the  table  to  hasten  to  the  spot,  saying,  "Be  it  animal  or  man  I 
will  have  justice  done  to  every  one  who  demands  it  from  me."  Now 
when  the  serpent  saw  the  emperor  it  bowed  before  him  three  times 
and  went  slowly  to  its  cave.  The  emperor  and  his  suite  followed 
there  also,  and  before  the  opening  of  the  cave  sat  a  monstrous  toad 


320 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


that  stopped  the  entrance  of  the  serpent.  It  seemed  that  the  serpent 
desired  its  removal ;  so  Charlemagne  ordered  that  it  should  be 
killed.  A  few  days  after  as  the  emperor  and  his  guests  were  about 
to  sit  down  to  dine,  the  same  serpent  came  into  the  banqueting-hall 
and  bowed  to  Charlemagne  as  before.  It  then  crawled  up  to  a 
drinking-cup  and  dropped  therein  a  splendid  jewel  of  wonderful  size 
and  beauty,  and  retired  amidst  universal  surprise.  The  emperor 
gave  this  jewel  to  his  wife,  and  she  wore  it  as  an  ornament  for  her 
hair.  It  proved  a  magic  stone,  and  to  have  the  power  of  fixing  the 
heart  of  the  emperor  upon  whoever  possessed  it.  Ever  after  the 
empress  received  it,  Charlemagne  could  not  endure  to  be  absent 
from  her,  and  his  whole  life  and  thought  was  devoted  to  her  and  her 
happiness.  Now  as  the  empress  felt  the  approach  of  death  she 
feared  lest  this  treasure  should  fall  into  the  hands  of  some  one  un- 
worthy of  the  love  of  Charlemagne ;  so  she  hid  it  under  her  tongue, 
and  there  it  remained.  Then  was  the  fondness  of  the  emperor  for 
the  dead  body  of  his  wife  as  great  as  it  had  been  for  her  when  liv- 
ing ;  and  he  had  it  embalmed,  and  carried  it  with  him  wherever  he 
went.  At  length  this  wonderful  devotion  excited  a  suspicion  in  the 
mind  of  Archbishop  Turpinus  that  there  must  be  something  super- 
natural connected  with  it,  and  as  he  was  the  constant  companion  of 
Charlemagne,  he  took  an  opportunity  to  examine  the  dead  body, 
and  soon  found  the  jewel.  This  he  took  and  the  love  of  the  em- 
peror was  transferred  to  himself,  and  he  would  not  be  separated  from 
him  any  more  than  formerly  he  would  be  from  the  empress.  After 
a  time  this  became  very  tiresome  to  Turpinus  and  in  a  fit  of  impa- 
tience he  threw  the  jewel  into  some  water  they  were  passing  in  the 
western  part  of  Germany.  Then  Charlemagne  was  fascinated  with 
the  country  which  contained  his  jewel ;  for  nothing  destroyed  its 
magic  art.  So  he  built  here  the  town  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  and  the 
magnificent  cathedral  there  still  bears  his  name.  Here  he  loved  to 
stay,  and  he  would  sit  for  hours  and  days  in  happy,  restful  thought 
beside  the  quiet  waters  which  held  the  miraculous  gem,  and  it  is 
believed  that  it  is  from  the  wonderful  effects  of  this  magic  stone  that 
the  baths  of  Aix-la-Chapelle  receive  their  healing  properties  and  are 
so  beneficial  to  those  who  use  them. 

The  Cathedral.  When  the  splendid  Cathedral  of  Aix-la-Cha- 
pelle was  not  more  than  half  finished,  all  the  funds  that  could  be  raised 
for  its  building  were  exhausted,  and  those  who  had  it  in  charge  knew 
not  how  to  obtain  more  money.  One  day  as  the  Senate  was  con- 
sidering this  matter,  and  its  members  could  not  agree  upon  any 
course  of  action,  there  appeared  to  be  great  danger  that  the  work 
would  be  abandoned.  At  this  juncture  of  the  affair  a  stranger  was 
announced,  who  said  he  had  an  important  proposal  to  make  to  the 
full  Senate.  His  appearance  was  a  singular  combination  of  the  re- 
pulsive and  the  agreeable.    His  costume  was  bizarre  in  the  extreme, 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


321 


and  there  was  an  indescribable  expression  in  his  face  of  mingled 
calculation  and  mockery.  But  his  address  was  faultless,  and  so 
courtly  and  pleasing  was  he  in  his  speech  that  it  was  impossible  to 
listen  to  him  without  a  certain  kind  of  pleasure.  He  told  the  Senate 
that  he  quite  understood  their  difficulties ;  that  he  appreciated  their 
sorrow  at  the  prospect  of  being  obliged  to  abandon  the  glorious 
work  they  had  undertaken,  and  he  also  knew  that  as  honest  men 
they  could  not  proceed  without  more  money.  Therefore  he  had  come 
to  offer  them  the  full  amount  that  they  desired,  and  was  ready  at 
any  time  to  give  it  to  them  in  solid  gold,  if  they  could  agree  to  his 
terms.  The  senators  regarded  him  with  astonishment,  and  wondered 
what  could  be  the  end  of  this  strange  affair.  Did  he  know  of  what 
he  spoke,  and  if  so,  who  was  he  that  spoke  of  millions  as  if  they 
were  a  mere  bagatelle,  and  to  be  had  at  will  ?  . —  and  moreover  offered 
the  actual  money  on  any  day  they  desired  it.  Had  he  discovered 
the  philosopher's  stone  ?  —  and  could  he  convert  all  before  him  into 
gold  ?  If  so  what  assurance  had  they  that  he  would  not  reduce 
themselves  to  "  filthy  lucre,"  and  thus  deprive  them  of  their  privilege 
of  becoming  more  common  and  less  valuable  dust  ?  Trust  me  for 
it,  they  trembled  at  the  thought,  and  on  the  heads  of  such  as  wore 
no  wigs  the  hair  was  strangely  bristled  !  From  this  surprise  the 
mayor  first  recovered,  and  began  to  question  the  stranger  concerning 
himself,  and  what  assurances  he  could  give  that  his  contract  would 
be  fulfilled.  To  this  the  man  replied,  that  he  would  leave  it  to  their 
wisdom  to  determine  who  he  might  be  ;  that  the  money  should  not  be 
a  loan  but  an  actual  gift,  for  all  time ;  that  it  should  be  paid  imme- 
diately and  thus  no  doubt  be  left  of  their  receiving  it.  But  for  all 
this  he  made  two  conditions  :  One,  that  the  Cathedral  should  be  fin- 
ished. Another,  that  on  the  day  of  its  dedication,  the  first  entering 
by  the  open  door  should  belong  to  him,  skin  and  hair,  body  and 
soul !  "  As  he  said  this  the  senators  fled  to  the  farthest  part  of  the 
hall,  for  they  well  knew  with  whom  they  talked.  The  mayor  indig- 
nantly commanded  him  to  go  away,  and  not  flatter  himself  that  they, 
men  of  dignity,  were  so  foolish  as  to  fall  into  the  same  trap  that 
with  another  plausible  device  caught  Mother  Eve,  and  had  since  her 
day,  by  means  of  changing  the  bait,  seduced  so  many  of  her  descend- 
ants. But  in  spite  of  this,  he  only  moved  the  nearer  to  them,  and 
courteously  demanded  the  cause  of  their  strange  conduct.  He  rea- 
soned with  them  if  it  were  not  better  that  one  should  be  given  for 
all ;  and  reminded  them  how  little  kings  and  governments  hesitated 
to  sacrifice  thousands  in  war,  to  obtain  some  good  for  those  remain- 
ing. Thus  at  last  the  senators  recovered  from  their  surprise  and 
began  to  consider  him  with  some  favor.  Their  great  need  of  money 
also  influenced  them,  and  finally  the  bargain  was  made.  Then  the 
Devil,  after  recommending  himself  to  their  kind  consideration,  van- 
ished by  way  of  the  chimney  with  peals  of  satanic  laughter.  It 
21 


322 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


was  not  long  before  many  well-filled  sacks  descended  this  same 
chimney  and  thus  secretly  reached  the  council  chamber.  At  first 
the  senators  were  suspicious  of  the  money,  but  examination  proved 
it  to  be  of  genuine  metal  and  exact  weight.  Then  they  agreed  that 
the  whole  matter  should  remain  a  secret  among  themselves,  and  went 
on  to  finish  the  cathedral.  But  some  of  them  whispered  it  to  their 
wives,  and  some  told  other  men,  and  so  it  happened  that  soon  their 
secret  was  everybody's  secret,  and  the  whole  city  in  deep  anxiety 
concerning  the  result.  When  all  was  ready  and  the  day  for  the 
dedication  had  arrived  the  door  was  opened,  but  none  would  enter ; 
and  though  the  bell  tolled  to  call  them,  and  all  heartily  desired  to 
see  the  splendid  temple,  yet  not  one  advanced  to  go  in.  The  mayor 
and  senators  knew  not  how  to  proceed,  when  suddenly  a  little  priest 
appeared  who  had  a  pJan  by  which  he  hoped  to  cheat  Satan  out  of 
his  soul  and  his  gold,  and  for  once  make  him  an  instrument  of  orood. 
The  contract  had  indeed  been  that  the  first  entering  should  be  his, 
but  it  had  not  been  stated  what  it  should  be,  whether  man  or  beast. 
By  tliis  oversight  he  hoped  that  the  Devil  might  be  outwitted.  It 
happened  that  the  day  previous  a  wolf  had  been  taken,  and  now  the 
trap  was  so  placed  that  if  let  out  the  wolf  must  run  into  the  church. 
Then  it  was  opened,  and  Satan,  who  watched  for  his  prey,  chased 
the  devoted  wolf  with  lightning  speed  ;  but  when  he  found  how  he 
had  been  cheated  his  anger  was  terrific.  He  broke  the  wolf's  neck, 
he  spat  fire  and  howled  terribly,  he  banged  the  cathedral  door  with 
such  force  as  to  split  it,  and  vanished  in  smoke,  leaving  the  cathedral 
filled  with  the  odor  of  brimstone.  On  the  door  an  image  of  a 
wolf  in  brass  is  yet  shown,  and  a  fir-cone  which  represents  a  lost 
soul.  The  crevice  also  remains,  a  lasting  memorial  of  the  little 
priest  who  was  so  wise  as  to  outwit  the  Devil. 

The  Hunchhached  Musicians.  Long  ago  there  lived  at  Aix-la- 
Chapelle  two  musicians  both  of  whom  were  hunchbacked.  But 
a  great  difference  existed  in  their  faces  and  characters.  Friedel 
was  well  looking  and  amiable,  and  a  fine  musician,  for  his  soul  was 
full  of  goodness  and  it  found  expression  through  the  tones  of  his 
violin.  But  Heinz  had  ugly  red  hair  and  a  more  ugly  temper,  and 
his  playing  was  so  unmusical  that  none  ever  listened  to  him  for 
pleasure.  Thus  it  happened  that  Friedel  and  his  violin  were  always 
in  demand  for  all  occasions  of  merry-making  and  frolic,  while  Heinz 
was  left  unemployed.  Now  Friedel  loved  Agatha,  the  daughter  of 
a  rich  wine-merchant,  and  she,  perceiving  his  soul  and  forgetting  his 
deformity,  returned  his  love.  All  went  well  with  the  lovers  them- 
selves, but  knowing  the  pride  and  love  of  money  of  the  maiden's 
father  they  determined  not  to  speak  to  him  until  they  should  be  com- 
pelled so  to  do.  At  last  a  very  rich  suitor  desired  Agatha  for  his 
bride,  and  obtained  her  father's  consent.  Then  it  was  that  Friedel 
was  obliged  to  speak,  though  with  sinking  heart.    The  wine  mer- 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


323 


cliant  cruelly  ridiculed  him,  and  drove  him  away  with  harsh  words. 
Poor  Friedel,  quite  distracted,  wandered,  he  knew  not  whither.  It 
was  late  when  the  chilling  dews  recalled  him  to  his  senses  and  he 
sought  the  town.  As  he  approached  it  strange  sounds  were  in  the 
air  and  sights  more  marvelous  met  his  gaze.  Daws  and  all  sorts  of 
night-birds  were  screaming,  and  above  the  tops  of  the  houses  the 
broom-riding  witches  were  trooping.  And  all  making  their  way  to 
the  fish-market,  or  Perwisch,  as  it  was  called,  in  Aix-la-Chapelle. 
Friedel  also  went  there,  and  great  was  his  amazement  at  what'  he 
saw.  The  square  was  illuminated  by  little  flames  in  the  air,  and 
crowds  of  female  figures  were  moving  about.  Then  Friedel  remem- 
bered that  this  was  quarter-day,  and  the  witches  were  said  to  hold  a 
picnic  on  that  day  at  midnight  in  this  very  square.  As  he  thought 
of  this  a  woman,  who  looked  very  much  like  the  mayoress  of  the 
town  and  seemed  to  be  the  leader  of  the  others,  advanced  to  meet 
him  and  led  him  to  a  table  loaded  with  all  kinds  of  delicacies  and 
delicious  beverages.  She  invited  him  to  eat,  and  after  he  had  re- 
freshed himself,  placed  in  his  hand  a  violin  and  asked  him  to  play 
music  for  dancing.  As  soon  as  the  violin  sounded  they  moved  away 
the  tables  and  seats  and  prepared  to  dance.  It  gave  Friedel  a  very 
novel  sensation  to  perceive  that  while  all  appeared  to  be  busily  talk- 
ing and  laughing  together,  no  sound  reached  his  ears.  Soon  the  lady- 
president  gave  the  signal  to  begin ;  then  the  violin  of  Friedel  seemed 
as  if  bewitched,  for  in  spite  of  him  it  would  go  quicker  and  more 
quickly,  and  the  dancers  whirled  faster  and  more  swiftly  till  all  was 
as  witchlike  as  could  well  be.  At  length  Friedel  fell  on  a  seat 
exhausted,  and  the  lady-president  thanked  him  for  his  sweet  music, 
and  commanded  him  to  kneel  to  receive  his  reward.  Then  she 
whispered  words  of  strange  sound  above  him,  and  laid  her  hand 
upon  his  poor  deformed  shoulders,  and  quickly  removed  the  hump 
from  them  and  placed  it  in  a  dish  which  she  instantly  closed.  As 
she  did  this  the  clocks  sounded  the  hour  of  one  and  in  a  twinkling 
all  vanished  and  Friedel  was  alone.  Weary  and  confused  he  has- 
tened home,  and  to  bed,  where  for  the  remainder  of  the  night  strange 
dreams  came  to  him.  But  in  the  morning  he  found  the  most  won- 
derful part  of  all,  to  be  true.  He  was  straight  and  comely  in  form 
as  in  face ;  moreover,  a  goodly  sum  of  money  was  in  the  pocket  of 
his  jacket ;  enough  to  make  him  equal  to  any  of  the  suitors  of  Aga- 
tha. As  soon  as  possible  he  repaired  to  the  house  of  the  wine  mer- 
chant, and  told  him  his  story  under  promise  of  secrecy.  Now  his 
reception  was  quite  different  from  the  former  one,  but  it  was  more 
the  sight  of  the  money  that  decided  the  merchant  to  make  Friedel 
his  son-in-law,  than  the  loss  of  the  hump.  Then  were  the  lovers 
made  happy.  Although  this  adventure  of  FriedePs  was  to  be  a 
secret,  it  escaped  in  some  way,  and  among  others  Heinz  heard  the 
story.  His  envy  and  hatred  of  Friedel,  which  had  been  bitter  enough 


324 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


before,  were  increased,  and  he  reported  wicked  stories  of  Friedel  and 
accused  him  of  the  most  immoral  intercourse  with  the  witches.  But 
he  secretly  determined  to  attend  their  picnic  on  the  next  quarter- 
day  and  try  his  fortune  among  them.  Now  as  he  came  to  the  fish- 
market  the  same  scene  met  his  gaze  as  that  which  Friedel  had  be- 
held, and  Heinz  advanced  boldly,  bearing  his  own  violin,  and  mak- 
ing signs  that  he  was  willing  to  play.  The  dance  was  formed  as 
before,  but  Heinz  was  so  occupied  in  gazing  avariciously  upon  the 
plate  on  the  tables  that  he  forgot  his  music,  and  played  even  more 
discordantly  than  was  his  custom.  Soon  the  dance  became  a  race, 
and  Heinz  beUeved  he  was  doing  so  well  as  to  give  the  witches 
great  pleasure,  when  they  all  ran  to  him  in  a  fury  and  shook  their 
fists  at  him.  He  had  also  been  so  unwise  as  to  call  by  name  some 
wives  of  the  town  whom  he  thought  he  recognized.  When  the 
lady-president  commanded  him  to  kneel  he  thought  it  the  time  to 
claim  a  reward,  so  he  seized  a  large  gold  drinking-cup.  The  lady 
gave  him  so  smart  a  box  on  the  ear  that  he  gladly  dropped  the 
cup ;  she  then  took  from  a  tightly  covered  dish  the  very  hump  she 
had  taken  off  the  shoulders  of  Friedel,  and  fastened  it  on  the 
breast  of  Heinz.  At  that  instant  the  clock  struck  one  and  he  was 
left  alone.  Who  can  describe  the  rage  and  despair  of  Heinz  ?  He 
added  also  to  his  misfortune  by  foolishly  telling  the  story,  and  thus 
became  the  laughing-stock  of  the  whole  city.  Only  Friedel  felt 
sorry  for  him,  and  he,  out  of  his  goodness  of  heart,  maintained 
Heinz  comfortably  all  the  rest  of  his  days. 

All  Saints,  or  Allerheiligen.    See  Baden-Baden. 

Alsace  and  Breisgau,  "  The  Holy  Odilier  Attich,  Duke  of  Al- 
sace, had  a  lovely  and  amiable  wife,  with  whom  he  lived  in  great 
happiness,  desiring  but  one  thing  more  than  he  possessed ;  this  was, 
the  blessing  of  children.  But  his  prayers  remained  unanswered  un- 
til he  vowed  that  if  the  Lord  would  grant  him  a  child  he  would 
dedicate  it  entirely  to  his  service.  At  length  a  daughter  was  born 
to  him,  but  his  joy  was  alloyed  by  the  fact  that  she  was  blind.  She 
was  christened  Odllie.  When  she  was  grown  she  was  a  beautiful 
maiden,  and  as  good  as  lovely.  Very  early  she  showed  singular 
piety  and  devoutness  of  character,  and  was  the  delight  of  all  who 
knew  and  loved  her.  Often  she  lamented  that  she  could  not  see, 
and  the  more  delightful  the  descriptions  that  were  given  her  of  God's 
creation,  the  more  sad  her  blindness  seemed  to  her.  She  was  ac- 
customed each  day,  and  many  times  a  day,  to  ask  God  to  bestow  on 
her  the  gift  of  sight ;  and  this  she  did  with  the  same  confidence  and 
faith  with  which  she  would  have  asked  her  father  for  a  new  robe. 
At  length,  to  the  great  astonishment  and  joy  of  all,  this  prayer  was 
answered.  Beautiful  before,  the  new  expression  of  her  eyes  en- 
hanced her  loveliness,  and  while  previously  she  had  no  lack  of  suit- 
ors, now  she  was  wooed  by  many  and  most  noble  youths.    This  so 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


325 


dazzling  prospect,  affected  the  mind  of  her  father  and  led  him  to 
repent  the  vow  he  had  made  to  give  his  sweet  child  to  God.  He 
had  almost  determined  to  announce  that  he  had  changed  his  inten- 
tions, when  Count  Adelhart,  a  brave  man,  and  one  who  had  done 
much  service  for  Attich  claimed  the  hand  of  Odilie  as  his  reward. 
Then  the  duke  resolved  that  she  should  be  his  bride.  Odilie  heard 
this  with  terror.  She  told  her  father  how  wrong  she  believed  it  to  be, 
and  how  she  much  feared  the  vengeance  of  Heaven  if  they  thus  disre- 
garded his  vow.  But  when  she  saw  that  they  would  marry  her  by 
compulsion,  she  fled,  she  knew  not  whither.  Then  Attich  called  out 
his  servants  and  huntsmen  to  pursue  her ;  she  ran  through  the  forest 
like  an  affrighted  hare,  and  at  last  came  to  a  wall  that  she  could  not 
pass.  Her  pursuers  were  close  upon  her,  and  despair  filled  her  soul, 
when  lo,  a  rock  opened  before  her !  She  glided  in  and  it  inclosed 
her  from  the  sight  of  her  father  and  his  men.  All  were  amazed. 
Soon  Odilie  called  out  from  the  bosom  of  the  rock  and  declared  that 
unless  her  father  would  fulfill  his  vow  he  should  never  see  her  again, 
but  that  if  he  would  consent  that  she  should  be  the  bride  of  Heaven, 
she  would  come  to  him.  Attich,  who  now  plainly  saw  the  will  of 
God  concerning  Odilie,  promised  all  she  asked,  and  the  rock  opened 
that  she  might  come  forth.  In  remembrance  of  this  miracle,  Attich 
built  there  where  the  rock  had  opened,  a  cloister.  Odilie  was  the 
first  nun  who  took  the  veil  in  it,  and  was  afterwards  abbess  of  the 
convent.  After  her  death  she  was  made  a  Beato  by  the  pope.  This 
is  the  popular  legend.  The  religious  one  will  be  found  by  reference 
to  St.  Ottilia,  in  the  preceding  portion  of  this  book. 

Alten-Aar.  The  last  Knight  of  Alten-Aarr  On  one  of  the 
precipitous,  cone-shaped  hills  that  overlook  the  river  Aar,  may  be 
seen  the  ruins  of  a  once  magnificent  castle.  This  was  formerly  the 
home  of  a  powerful  and  noble  family  of  knights ;  but  the  end  of 
Kurt,  the  last  of  his  race,  was  so  horrible,  in  its  sadness,  that  no  one 
would  again  inhabit  the  castle,  and  though  for  many  years  it  re- 
mained stately  and  grand  in  its  desertion,  it  at  last  crumbled  and  fell, 
no  longer  able  to  survive  the  adverse  fate  of  the  race  it  had  shielded. 
Kurt  of  Alten-Aar,  the  last  knight  of  his  name,  was  a  noble  champion 
of  liberty.  He  opposed  the  oppressions  of  Church  and  State,  and 
thus  offended  princes  and  bishops.  He  had  two  lovely  daughters 
who  so  cheered  his  stern,  warrior  life,  that  he  often  trembled  lest  the 
time  should  come  when  they  would  leave  him.  At  length  he  received 
on  the  same  day  two  letters  demanding  them  in  marriage.  Pale  and 
tearful  he  read  these  letters  and  with  sad  heart  gave  them  to  his 
children.  When  they  had  read  them  he  asked  their  decisions.  The 
eldest  threw  down  the  letter  with  scorn,  and  declared,  "  The  daugh- 
ter of  the  Count  of  Alten-Aar  is  too  proud  to  give  her  hand  to  a 
robber  !  "  "  And  you,  my  darling  ?  "  asked  the  father  of  the  other. 
She  tlirew  her  arms  about  his  neck,  and  kissing  him  said,  "  Father, 


326 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


my  sister  has  spoken  for  both."  Then  was  the  old  knight  proud  of 
his  children.  "  It  is  true,"  exclaimed  he,  these  knights  are  rob- 
bers. They  will  attack  and  besiege  us,  but  it  is  better  that  we 
should  die  than  to  make  these  unholy  alliances."  Then  he  tore  the 
letters  and  delivered  the  pieces  to  the  messengers  who  had  brought 
them  and  bade  them  return  to  their  masters.  Soon  the  castle  was 
besieged.  The  brave  Kurt  called  all  his  followers  together,  and  gave 
permission  for  those  who  desired  to  leave  the  castle.  But  none 
would  go,  all  preferred  to  die  with  him  rather  than  desert  him.  The 
strength  of  the  castle  was  such  that  the  besiegers  knew  they  could 
not  attack  it  with  any  profit,  and  they  determined  to  subdue  it  by 
famine.  Thus  weeks  passed  on,  no  relief  came,  and  at  length  the 
provisions  were  spent  and  death  was  lurking  in  every  nook  of  the 
vast  castle,  sure  of  victims.  Again  the  knight  assembled  his  re- 
tainers, and  the  second  time  offered  them  the  opportunity  to  go  forth 
from  the  castle.  But  not  one  was  ready  to  leave  him  whom  they 
loved  as  well  as  served.  Then  they  determined  upon  a  sally,  but 
this  failed  and  death  alone  was  left  to  them.  One  by  one  they 
dropped  away.  Fevers  broke  out  among  them  and  the  hunger- 
weakened  ones  could  not  long  endure.  Soon  all  save  the  old  knight 
were  gone.  He  stood  by  the  dead  bodies  of  his  children,  and  de- 
termined that  he  would  not  wait  for  death  which  was  so  slow  in 
claiming  him.  He  put  on  a  full  suit  of  armor,  and  descended  to  the 
stables  ;  his  favorite  horse  remained.  He  mounted  it  and  rode  to 
the  highest  tower  of  the  castle.  It  was  early  morning,  and  the  ris- 
ing sun  irradiated  all  the  scene,  and  showed  plainly  to  the  besiegers 
this  wonderful  sight.  The  commanding  figure  of  the  noble  Kurt, 
his  long  silver  hair,  his  stern  face  shaded  by  the  plume  of  his  hel- 
met, the  glistening  steel  of  his  armor,  his  beloved  milk-white  charger, 
and  all  standing  out  against  the  sky,  as  does  the  angel  on  the  Castle 
of  St.  Angelo.  Those  who  beheld  were  breathless  with  horror,  but 
could  not  turn  away  their  gaze.  At  length  he  waved  his  hand,  as 
if  to  speak.  "  Here  you  behold  the  last  man  and  the  last  steed  that 
live  in  my  castle !  Hunger  and  disease  have  taken  all.  Wife, 
children,  comrades,  all,  all  are  gone !  Gladly  would  I  have  died  an 
honorable  death,  to  give  them  an  honorable  life.  But  sooner  would 
I  see  them  die,  than  that  they  should  live  beneath  your  oppression. 
Thank  God,  they  have  died  fi:'ee,  even  as  I  will  die  !  "  So  saying  he 
spurred  his  steed  to  the  edge  of  the  rampart.  The  animal  started 
back  and  reared  ;  but  soon  perceiving  the  will  of  the  master  he  had 
loved  and  obeyed,  he  gave  the  fatal  leap  into  the  air.  Down,  down 
the  deep  abyss,  from  rock  to  rock,  and  into  the  dark  river  rolled 
the  noble  beast  and  his  more  noble  rider,  and  the  waters,  hid  from 
view  the  old  knight  Kurt,  the  last  of  Alten-Aar !  Hastily,  and  over- 
come with  horror  the  besiegers  retired,  nor  could  any  find  courage  to 
enter  the  vast  castle-tomb,  which  seemed  to  frown,  as  if  ready  to 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


327 


fall  upon  them,  should  they  dare  to  pollute  by  their  presence  its 
ghastly,  death-strewn  halls. 

Auerbaeh.  As  a  poor  peasant  was  one  day  passing  the  old  castle 
of  Auerbaeh,  he  thought  of  the  stories  he  had  heard  of  the  rich 
treasures  supposed  to  be  concealed  in  such  old  castles ;  and  as  he 
regarded  the  vineyards  all  about,  he  thought  that  there  might  well 
be  wines  also,  for  why  should  not  they  be  preserved  as  well  as  gold 
and  jewels  ?  As  he  thus  reflected  there  came  towards  him  an  old 
man,  with  smiling  face  and  shining  eyes,  and  wearing  a  cooper's 
leather  apron.  He  thus  addressed  the  peasant.  "  Would  you  not  like 
to  taste  the  wine  of  the  noble  lords  of  Auerbaeh  ?  Aye,  I  thought  so. 
Well,  follow  me."  And  he  led  the  way  through  the  vineyards  towards 
the  castle.  The  peasant  was  only  too  ready  to  follow,  and  he  smacked 
his  lips,  and  fancied  he  could  smell  the  luscious  wine.  They  stopped 
at  an  old,  rickety  cellar-door,  and  when  this  was  opened,  descended 
some  steps,  slippery  with  moss  and  partly  decayed.  At  the  bottom  the 
old  cooper  took  a  huge  bowl,  a  lever,  and  a  candle  from  a  niche,  and 
proceeded  over  the  moist,  uncertain  ground  with  careful  step.  As 
they  advanced,  and  their  eyes  became  more  accustomed  to  the  gloom, 
the  flickering  candle  disclosed  a  row  of  gigantic,  jolly,  comfortable 
looking  wine-tuns.  The  old  cooper  began  to  talk  fluently  of  them 
all,  as  if  they  were  his  friends,  and  in  fact  had  names  for  them,  such 
as  Bulgegood  and  Cheer-me-quick,  Warm-me  and  Lay-me-down. 
He  said  that  this  was  his  kingdom,  and  the  tuns  his  loving  subjects. 
The  astonished  peasant  was  filled  with  admiration,  which  he  ex- 
pressed by  varied  exclamations  and  continually  clapping  his  hands. 
"  And  then,"  said  he,  ^'  the  tuns  shine  like  real  burnished  gold ! " 
The  old  cooper  declared  that  it  was  true,  and  explained  that  this 
was  because  the  tuns  were  formed  from  the  wine ;  that  those  made 
by  man  had  long  since  dropped  away.  But,"  he  added,  "  looking 
is  not  enough ;  you  must  taste."  So  saying,  he  filled  his  bowl,  and 
first  drank  himself  to  the  health  of  the  peasant.  Then  came  the 
peasant's  turn,  and  so  good  was  the  wine,  that  he  stopped  not  short 
of  emptying  the  bowl.  He  smacked  and  lapped  his  mouth,  declar- 
ing the  wine  to  be  fit  for  the  pope  himself.  Then  the  old  cooper, 
though  pleased,  declared,  that  the  wine  which  they  had  tasted  was 
quite  plebeian,  and  his  aristocracy  were  farther  on.  Thus  they  pro- 
ceeded, and  soon  the  peasant  was  hugging  and  kissing  the  casks,  and 
cutting  all  manner  of  ridiculous  capers.  But  the  old  cooper  only 
laughed,  and  at  each  bowl  declared  that  he  had  still  better,  farther 
and  farther  on.  At  length  the  tears  gushed  from  the  eyes  of  the 
happy  peasant  as  he  tipped  the  last  bowl,  and  sank  down  in  a  deep 
sleep.  Next  morning  when  he  awoke,  he  found  himself  in  a  ditch 
behind  the  old  ruin,  and  when  he  arose  and  searched  for  the  entrance 
to  the  wine  cellar,  it  could  not  be  found,  and  since  that  time  though 
many  have  sought,  none  have  discovered  it ;  but  sometimes  they  per- 


328 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


ceive  an  odor  of  wine  which  causes  them  to  exclaim,  "  Behold,  the 
cooper  is  tasting  his  wine !  " 

Bacharaeh.  Palatine  Count  Hermann  of  Stahleck,  On  a 
mountain  above  Bacharaeh  lies  the  ruin  of  Stahleck.  Here,  in  the 
middle  of  the  twelfth  century,  lived  Hermann,  Count  of  Stahleck, 
nephew  of  the  Emperor,  Conrad  HI.  He  was  remarkable  for  his 
wisdom  and  learning,  but  was  exceedingly  avaricious,  and  possessed 
of  an  unquiet  spirit.  His  wife  succeeded  in  persuading  him  nol  to 
join  the  Crusades ;  but  he  could  not  rest,  and  was  carried  away  by 
his  desire  to  possess  a  large  tract  of  country  Avhich  was  under  the 
rule  of  the  Bishops  of  Mayence  and  Trier.  Many  other  knights 
joined  him,  and  at  length  he  stormed  the  stronghold  of  Treis,  a 
castle  on  the  Moselle,  belonging  to  Adelbert,  of  Monstreil,  Arch- 
bishop of  Metz  and  Trier.  Now  this  bishop,  fearing  for  the  strength 
of  his  arms,  had  recourse  to  a  spiritual  ruse  which  assisted  him  im- 
mensely. He  presented  himself  to  his  troops  with  a  crucifix  in  his 
hand,  which  he  declared  to  them  was  brought  to  him  by  the  Arch- 
angel Michael;  and  he  added  that  this  heavenly  messenger  had 
assured  him  of  success,  if  only  his  troops  would  fight  bravely  and 
well.  This  served  to  inspire  his  soldiers  with  confidence,  and  when 
those  of  Hermann  saw  the  bishop  advancing  with  the  crucifix  in  his 
hand,  they  did  not  stand  firm,  and  their  cause  was  lost.  But  Her- 
mann, not  yet  discouraged,  continued  the  war,  and  attacked  the 
Archbishop  of  Mainz,  Arnold  of  Selnhofen.  And  here  he  would 
have  succeeded,  but  for  the  employment  against  him  of  treachery, 
and  a  great  abuse  of  spiritual  power.  The  archbishop,  by  means  of 
dazzling  promises  of  preferment,  seduced  the  chaplain  of  Stahleck 
Castle.  He  refused  absolution  to  the  countess,  because  her  husband 
was  battling  against  the  Church,  and  it  was  her  duty  to  try  by  all 
the  means  at  her  command  to  put  an  end  to  this  unholy  conduct. 
He  urged  her  to  write  to  Hermann,  persuading  him,  which  she  did ; 
but  as  this  failed,  he  hired  two  assassins  who  enlisted  among  Her- 
mann's soldiers  under  false  pretenses  ;  and  the  bishop  promised  them 
full  absolution  for  all  their  past  and  future  sins,  if  they  would  rid 
him  of  his  enemy.  These  wicked  ones  fulfilled  their  mission  but 
too  well.  They  waited  until  they  were  on  watch  together,  and  then 
entering  Hermann's  tent,  they  struck  off  his  head,  and  fled  with  it  to 
his  own  castle  in  order  to  prove  to  the  confessor  that  they  had  fully 
executed  his  will.  Here  a  true  follower  of  the  countess  saw  the 
dreadful  sight,  and  hastened  to  inform  his  mistress  of  the  truth.  She, 
with  dagger  in  hand,  rushed  to  the  apartment  of  the  chaplain  and  took 
a  meagre  revenge  by  stabbing  him  on  the  spot.  She  then  lavished 
tears  and  caresses  on  the  head  of  her  murdered  husband.  But  sud- 
denly all  reason  fled.  She  ran  wildly  about  the  castle,  threatening  all 
who  attempted  to  approach  her  with  the  same  fate  as  that  of  the  con- 
fessor.   At  last  she  rushed  to  the  highest  part  of  the  castle,  and 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


329 


threw  herself  down  to  instant  death.  But  the  principal  cause  of  all 
this  wrong  was  still  left,  —  the  archbishop,  Arnold  of  Mayence.  It 
was  not  long  before  the  punishment  of  his  sins  overtook  him.  He 
had  excited  the  hatred  of  the  people  by  his  hardness  and  oppressions, 
and  soon  they  razed  his  palace  about  his  head,  and  he  was  forced  to 
escape  for  his  life.  His  friends  warned  him,  and  even  the  Abbess 
Hildegarde  wrote  to  him,  urging  him  to  repent,  but  all  in  vain.  He 
retired  to  the  Abbey  of  Jakobsberg.  The  abbot  was  his  enemy, 
and  betrayed  him  to  the  people,  who  came  by  night  and  murdered 
the  archbishop,  even  as  he  had  caused  to  be  murdered  the  Palatine 
Count  Hermann  of  Stahleck. 

Baden-Baden.  All  Saints,  or  Allerlieiligen.  The  abbey  of  this 
name  was  celebrated  in  bygone  days  for  the  learning  of  its  monks  ;  and 
the  school  connected  with  the  monastery  was  frequented  by  the  sons 
of  the  most  illustrious  families,  as  well  as  by  those  of  lesser  consider- 
ation. At  one  time  there  came  hither  a  well-born  youth  of  Stras- 
bourg. He  excelled  in  the  pursuits  of  literature,  and  had  a  soul 
keenly  sensitive  to  the  beautiful,  and  in  harmony  with  nature.  The 
scenery  in  the  vicinity  of  Baden-Baden  was  his  delight ;  and  the 
forest  depths,  and  the  falling  waters  of  the  Grindbachs  held  him 
spell-bound  for  many  hours.  One  day  as  he  sat  watching  the  snowy 
waterfall,  lost  in  thought  and  admiration,  a  lovely  maiden  issued  from 
a  cave  near  by,  and  seemed  to  seek  peace  and  rest  as  he  had  done. 
She  was  a  gypsy,  and  a  perfect  child  of  Nature.  She  knew  it  all  by 
intuition ;  by  having  learned  it  in  her  earliest  years ;  by  having 
breathed  and  lived  its  truth  and  simplicity  with  every  moment  of 
her  life.  Thus  was  she  suited  to  all  about  her,  and  seemed  to  the 
young  student  to  be  the  one  element  which  had  been  wanting  to 
make  the  perfection  of  the  scene.  From  this  time  his  wanderings 
had  a  purpose,  and  soon  the  gypsy  Elmy  and  the  student  had  plighted 
their  faith  and  love  forever  and  forever  1  Her  childish  heart  was 
more  than  full  of  happiness,  and  she  spent  many  hours  of  his  absence 
in  gazing  on  the  plain  gold  ring,  which  he  had  given  her  in  pledge 
that  she  should  be  his  bride.  One  day  she  laid  it  down  before  her 
that  she  might  see  it  glisten  in  the  sun.  A  raven  sat  upon  a  tree 
above  her,  and  suddenly  he  seized  the  ring,  and  bore  it  to  his  nest. 
Then  was  Elmy  sorrowful,  for  her  grandmother,  a  learned  gypsy, 
had  often  told  her  that  all  her  happiness  depended  on  the  safe-keep- 
ing of  this  ring.  When  her  lover  came,  she  begged  that  he  would 
devise  some  means  for  its  recovery.  He  dispelled  her  sadness,  and 
assured  her  that  his  love  depended  not  on  any  gift  or  bauble,  on 
nothing  save  her  own  good  and  truthful  heart.  But  next  day  as  she 
walked  near  the  grotto  a  frightful  scene  presented  itself  to  her.  The 
student,  anxious  to  comply  with  the  request  of  Elmy,  had  obtained 
the  assistance  of  some  of  his  friends,  and  had  come  to  try  if  it  were 
possible  to  recover  the  lost  ring.    They  had  lowered  him  over  the 


330 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


cliff  in  a  basket,  and  just  as  Elmy  came  in  sight,  he  had  almost 
reached  the  nest.  She  was  rigid  with  fear.  She  would  have 
screamed,  but  her  voice  was  gone ;  it  would  not  warn  him  of  her 
love  and  nearness.  And  now  he  approaches  the  nest ;  he  reaches 
out ;  the  ring  is  his.  But  whence  that  fearful  shriek,  that  agonizing 
cry  that  comes  but  when  the  very  soul  is  rent  asunder,  and  is  the  wild 
death-knell  of  hope  ?  It  was  Elmy  ;  for  even  then,  just  then,  when  it 
seemed  that  all  was  well,  and  the  joyous  thought  had  flashed  through 
her,  that  he  had  done  all  this  for  her,  and  soon  she  should  thank  him 
for  it,  the  rope  gave  way  —  a  single  crash,  a  dash  from  rock  to  rock, 
and  Elmy  bent  over  the  lifeless  body  of  her  faithful  lover ! 

Baldreit.  This  was  the  name  of  one  of  the  most  celebrated  old 
hotels  in  the  vicinity  of  Baden-Baden.  It  was  acquired  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner :  One  of  the  princes  of  the  Palatinate  was  a  great 
sufferer  from  gout,  and  was  sent  by  his  physician  to  try  the  effect  of 
the  hot  springs  of  Baden.  His  cure  was  very  slow,  and  his  patience 
almost  exhausted,  when  one  morning  he  awoke  and  found  himself 
free  from  all  pain,  and  able  to  move  with  perfect  ease.  His  delight 
was  so  great  that  he  determined  to  test  his  recovery  even  at  this 
early  hour.  He  dressed  and  ordered  his  horse,  and  descended  to 
the  court-yard  to  mount.  As  soon  as  he  was  in  the  saddle  the  court- 
yard door  was  opened,  and  he  spurred  his  horse ;  but  the  animal 
went  prancing  about  for  some  minutes  in  the  paved  court ;  this  noise, 
so  unusual  at  this  hour,  woke  all  in  the  house,  and  the  landlord  and 
several  servants  appeared  at  the  windows.  Waving  his  hand  to 
them  the  prince  said,  "  See,  how  soon  I  can  ride."  But  the  noise 
was  such  that  "  soon  ride,"  were  the  only  Avords  that  they  could  hear, 
and  this  has  remained  the  sign  of  the  house  to  this  day. 

Burkliardt  Keller  of  Yburg,  Many  years  ago  a  margravine 
of  Baden-Baden  determined  to  pass  the  days  of  her  widowhood  at 
the  Castle  of  Hohen-Baden.  In  her  suite  was  young  Burkhardt 
Keller,  a  most  noble  knight.  The  steward  of  the  margravine  had  a 
lovely  daughter,  Clara  von  Tiefenau,  with  whom  Burkhardt  was  soon 
passionately  in  love.  She  lived  at  Kuppenheim,  and  the  young  man 
was  accustomed  to  go  to  and  from  the  castle  and  town  sometimes 
very  late  at  night.  It  happened  that  as  he  passed  one  night  near 
twelve  o'clock,  he  saw  a  lovely  lady  sitting  beneath  the  trees,  whose 
face  was  only  covered  with  the  thinnest  of  veils.  He  was  spell- 
bound by  her  beauty,  and  at  length  stretched  out  his  hand  as  if  to 
touch  her,  when  she  vanished  like  the  dew  from  a  flower.  The 
knight  returned  to  Hohen-Baden  and  related  this  strange  vision  to 
the  old  warder  of  the  castle.  Now  this  particular  old  warder  fully 
realized  the  accepted  idea  of  old  warders  in  general,  and  was  not  a 
whit  lacking  in  garrulity,  and  knowledge  of  all  that  was  wonderful 
for  leagues  about  his  castle,  or  in  the  love  of  telling  it.  So  he  told 
Burkhardt  whom  he  had  seen.    That  on  or  near  the  spot  where  the 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


331 


airy  lady  sat  there  had  formerly  been  a  heathen  temple ;  that 
nymphs  and  such-like  dangerous  and  bewitching  ones  often  came 
there  by  night ;  and  that  no  sane  people  ever  ventured  there,  and 
added  that  now  it  even  seemed  unsafe  for  love-sick  and  dazed  ones, 
like  our  young  knight.  But  Burkhardt  could  not  rest :  the  vision 
he  had  seen  came  constantly  before  his  sight  and  deprived  him  of 
all  peace.  So  he  determined  to  try  if  he  could  solve  this  mystery. 
He  took  with  him  men  and  implements  for  digging.  Soon  after  they 
commenced  the  excavations  they  found  an  altar  which  had  been 
dedicated  to  the  Nymph  of  the  Forest,  and  a  little  farther  down  an 
exquisitely  chiseled  statue  in  marble.  It  represented  a  lovely  and 
richly  dressed  lady,  full  of  grace  and  attractiveness.  It  acted  as  a 
spell  on  Burkhardt.  He  remained  motionless  before  it.  He  caused 
it  to  be  placed  upon  the  altar,  and  at  last  went  away.  But  still  the 
strange  spell  was  on  him ;  he  returned  next  day  to  see  the  statue, 
when  to  his  surprise  he  again  beheld  the  same  lovely  being  he  had 
first  seen  at  midnight.  And  now  she  did  not  vanish  ;  she  greeted 
him  kindly  and  with  sweet  smiles,  and  as  she  listened  to  his  burning 
words  of  love  and  wild  devotion  she  clasped  him  in  her  arms.  Alas, 
that  death  should  lurk  in  anything  so  sweet  as  were  her  kisses  and 
embraces  to  the  infatuated  knight !  His  horse  returned  to  the  castle 
without  his  rider,  and  next  morning  his  dead  body  was  found  at  the 
foot  of  the  altar;  but  the  beautiful  marble  statue  was  gone.  The 
brother  of  the  knight  destroyed  the  altar,  and  erected  on  the  spot  a 
cross  on  which  may  be  seen  the  name  of  Burkhardt  Keller,  and  not 
far  from  the  cross  is  a  stone  statue  called  Keller's  Bild. 

The  Convent  of  Lichtenthal.  Kloster  Lichtenthal.  Long  ago,  in 
one  of  the  German  wars,  the  enemy  approached  so  near  this  con- 
vent that  the  good  Abbess  of  Lichtenthal  was  rightfully  alarmed. 
She  had  heard  much  of  the  wrongs  inflicted  upon  helpless  women 
and  children,  and  she  feared  for  the  chastity  and  the  lives  of  her 
nuns  if  they  remained  in  the  cloister.  So  she  called  them  all  to- 
gether and  told  them  of  her  decision  to  seek  safety  in  flight.  They 
then  went  in  procession  to  the  chapel  to  pray  for  grace  and  protec- 
tion in  this  hour  of  need.  When  the  service  was  ended  the  abbess 
stood  before  an  image  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  which  was  carved  in 
wood.  In  a  loud  voice  she  besought  her  kind  care,  and  hung  the 
keys  of  the  convent  on  her  arm,  begging  her  to  protect  their  loved 
home  from  the  rage  and  fury  of  the  approaching  foe.  Just  then  a 
peasant  rushed  in.  He  was  bleeding  from  wounds,  and  his  clothing 
torn  and  soiled.  He  announced  that  the  soldiers  were  so  near  that 
only  minutes,  not  hours  could  elapse  before  they  would  reach  the 
gate.  Then  the  nuns  hastened  to  go  out  by  a  side  door  which  led 
in  an  opposite  direction  from  that  of  the  coming  troops,  and  they 
were  soon  out  of  sight  of  the  convent.  The  soldiers  came,  they 
found  none  to  oppose,  and  made  their  way  through  the  silent  corri- 


332 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


dors  to  the  chapel,  hoping  to  find  there  rich  plate  and  other  booty 
sucli  as  they  desired.  But  as  they  would  have  entered,  the  image 
of  the  Virgin,  surrounded  by  a  dazzling  light,  came  towards  the 
door  of  the  church.  At  first  they  were  fixed  to  the  spot,  but  as  she 
moved  on  and  came  nearer  they  were  filled  with  awe,  and  when  she 
seized  the  convent  keys  and  offered  them  with  a  threatening  air, 
none  dared  to  take  them,  and  they  fled  from  the  convent  with  far 
more  readiness  than  they  had  entered  it.  Thus  was  the  Kloster  pre- 
served, and  when  the  nuns  returned  they  found  everything  undis- 
turbed, and  but  for  the  testimony  of  those  who  had  seen  they  could 
not  have  believed  that  the  army  had  been  there.  The  wonderful 
miracle-working  Madonna  is  still  in  the  choir  of  the  church.  It 
is  evidently  a  production  of  a  master  of  the  Byzantine  school  of 
art. 

Eberstein,  Old.  After  the  Emperor  Otho  I.  had  conquered 
Strasbourg,  he  besieged  the  Castle  of  Eberstein  which  the  counts  of 
that  name  held  against  him.  But  they  were  brave  warriors,  and 
after  a  siege  of  nine  months  Otho  was  apparently  no  nearer  his 
hopes  than  at  the  beginning.  Then  one  of  his  knights  advised  him 
to  proclaim  a  tournament  at  Spiers  and  promise  the  counts  of  Eber- 
stein safe-conduct  if  they  should  choose  to  attend,  and  meantime, 
while  they  were  absent,  the  castle  could  be  surprised.  Otho  profited 
by  this  advice,  and  the  tournament  was  held.  The  counts  of  Eber- 
stein appeared  and  did  themselves  great  credit.  After  the  tourna- 
ment there  was  a  ball,  and  the  counts  danced  with  many  of  the  chief 
ladies  of  the  company.  During  one  of  these  dances  the  Count  of 
Eberstein  was  told  by  his  partner  of  the  ruse  of  the  emperor ;  she 
advised  him  to  confer  with  his  two  brothers,  and  that  they  all 
should  leave  as  early  as  possible.  He  acted  on  the  advice  of  the 
fair  lady,  but  after  telling  his  brothers,  they  returned  again  to  the 
dance,  and  after  a  little  Count  Eberstein  proposed  that  the  knights 
and  ladies  should  reassemble  next  day  to  repeat  the  tournament, 
and  proposed  to  leave  a  hundred  guldens  in  honor  of  the  noble  ladies. 
The  emperor  consented,  and  all  separated  with  great  good-will,  but 
the  three  counts  of  Eberstein  hastened  to  their  castle.  Next  day 
all  were  assembled  and  waited  for  the  tournament  to  begin.  At 
length  it  came  out  that  the  counts  of  Eberstein  had  returned  home 
and  the  emperor  was  outwitted.  Then  he  sent  men  to  try  if  they 
could  not  reach  the  castle  before  them  ;  but  they  were  already  there, 
and  repelled  the  assault  in  such  a  manner  as  to  convince  all  that  it 
was  worse  than  useless  to  contend  against  them.  Then  Otho  sent 
three  ambassadors  to  negotiate  terms  with  them.  The  castellan 
conducted  them  through  the  castle,  and  showed  them  casks  of  wine, 
heaps  of  fruit,  and  an  abundance  of  flour.  Now  the  casks  had  false 
bottoms,  and  the  flour  covered  a  mass  of  chafl" ;  but  the  ambassadors 
told  Otho  that  the  castle  contained  provisions  for  another  nine 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


333 


months,  and  that  it  was  vain  to  think  of  subduing  it.  They  advised 
him  the  rather  to  propitiate  them  by  giving  one  of  his  sisters  in 
marriage  to  Eberhard,  the  youngest  Count  of  Eberstein.  This  was 
done,  and  their  union  was  celebrated  by  joyous  festivals  throughout 
all  Saxony. 

Eberstein^  New.  The  Knight's  Leap.  The  counts  of  Eberstein 
were  ever  a  bold  and  fearless  race,  who  preferred  liberty  before 
life,  and  death  sooner  than  imprisonment.  They  were  also  adven- 
turous, and  frequently  engaged  in  wars  and  battles.  A  deadly 
feud  existed  between  Count  Wolf  of  Eberstein  and  the  counts  of 
Wurtemburg.  He  was  obliged  to  flee  for  his  life,  and  found  an  asy- 
lum with  his  uncle  William  at  the  Castle  of  New  Eberstein.  But 
his  retreat  was  discovered,  and  it  was  again  necessary  that  he  should 
flee.  He  arose  one  morning  and  mounted  his  hor^e  to  do  so,  when 
he  found  that  the  castle  was  already  surrounded  by  his  enemies,  ex- 
cept on  the  side  which  overhung  the  Murg.  There  was  no  other 
way  of  escape,  and  this  was  apparently  the  way  of  death.  He  con- 
sidered but  a  moment.  He  would  not  fall  into  the  hands  of  his 
enemies.  He  thought  of  the  mettle  and  spirit  of  his  faithful  horse, 
and  he  turned  his  head  in  the  direction  of  the  rocks ;  when  he 
reached  the  edge,  he  spurred  the  noble  creature  to  take  the  leap. 
One  moment  and  it  was  done.  He  had  gone  into  the  deepest  part 
of  the  river,  but  he  was  rewarded  by  success.  His  enemies  had 
seen  his  leap  with  wonder  and  shouted  with  excitement.  They  now 
saw  him  gain  the  opposite  bank  and  ride  away,  with  oaths  and  cries 
of  rage.  He  made  his  way  to  the  Castle  of  Pfalzgraf  Ruprecht,  who 
joyfully  received  him,  and  helped  him  to  regain  his  possessions. 

The  Fremersberg.  This  eminence  commands  a  very  extensive 
view  of  the  Valley  of  the  Rhine  even  as  far  as  the  Yosges.  Here 
in  1411  a  hermit,  called  Brother  Henry,  built  a  cell  and  chapel.  He 
was  soon  joined  by  others,  and  they  felt  the  need  of  more  extensive 
buildings.  At  length  it  chanced  that  the  Margrave  James,  who  was 
an  untiring  huntsman,  was  one  day  separated  from  his  friends  and 
servants,  and  could  not  find  them  again.  He  wandered  for  hours, 
but  found  no  way  of  escape.  His  path  was  ever  closed  by  some 
craggy  height  or  dangerous  precipice.  He  sounded  his  horn  again 
and  again  with  no  effect,  and  at  length  a  moonless  night  seemed  to 
end  all  hope.  But  the  barking  of  his  dog  and  the  sound  of  the 
horn  reached  the  ears  of  the  hermits  of  Fremersberg.  They  went 
out  with  torches  and  found  the  good  Margrave,  whom  they  conducted 
to  their  cells.  They  gave  him  all  the  comforts  their  poverty  would 
allow,  and  though  vastly  different  from  his  accustomed  fare,  the  sup- 
per was  eaten  with  keen  relish,  and  he  slept  better  than  ever  before. 
He  was  charmed  with  the  spirit  of  the  hermits  and  grateful  to  them 
for  their  kindness.  But  words  were  not  the  only  testimonial  of  this, 
for  with  such  liberality  as  becomes  the  rich  and  royal,  he  built  here 


334 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


I 


in  1451  a  fine  monastery,  and  it  was  filled  with  monks  governed  by 
the  Franciscan  rule.  In  1689  it  escaped  destruction,  and  was  a 
monastery  until  1826,  when  the  number  was  so  small  that  it  was 
sold.  A  portion  of  the  estate  is  now  in  vineyards.  On  another  part 
there  was  an  inn,  now  a  chateau,  the  dehghtful  situation  of  which 
could  not  well  be  surpassed.  In  1838  a  cross  was  erected  where  the 
high  altar  had  formerly  been. 

HoheU'Baden.  At  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century  a  fearful 
plague  broke  out  through  all  Germany.  The  Margrave,  Charles  I., 
died  at  Pforzheim.  The  Margravine,  Catherine  of  Austria,  fled 
with  her  two  children,  Frederic  and  Margaret,  to  the  Castle  of 
Hohen-Baden.  Here  she  passed  her  time  in  the  care  of  her  chil- 
dren, and  in  prayer  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  that  she  would  preserve 
the  lives  of  the  little  ones.  Each  day  the  plague  came  nearer  and 
nearer,  and  the  reports  of  its  ravages  grew  more  frightful.  At 
length  Catherine  took  her  children  into  a  room  in  the  highest  tower. 
Here  she  carried  a  large  supply  of  provisions,  and  allowed  no  one  to 
come  near  her,  saye  an  old  man  who  came  each  morning  to  the  foot  of 
the  staircase  with  fresh  bread  and  water.  The  children  played  several 
hours  each  day  upon  the  turret,  and  seemed  to  thrive  in  the  pure  air 
they  breathed.  One  evening  they  fell  asleep  in  each  other's  arms 
upon  a  carpet  in  the  corner  of  the  turret,  and  as  the  mother  watched 
them  she  was  moved  to  praise  and  thanksgiving  for  the  goodness 
that  had  spared  them  thus  far,  and  at  the  same  time  sh^  earnestly 
prayed  for  further  protection.  Suddenly  as  she  was  kneeling  upon 
the  stone  pavement,  with  her  clasped  hands  raised  towards  heaven, 
a  beautiful  vision  was  before  her.  The  Blessed  Mother  of  Mercy 
was  near  her  on  the  clouds,  which  on  each  side  of  her  were 
formed  into  radiant  pictures.  That  on  the  right  represented  the 
convent  and  Lichtenthal,  that  on  the  left  the  hot  springs  of  Baden- 
Baden.  She  bent  her  head  lovingly  towards  the  margravine,  and 
pointed  with  her  right  hand  to  the  sleeping  children,  and  then  to 
the  convent  and  church.  With  the  left  she  pointed  to  the  springs 
of  Baden.  Then  she  disappeared  instantly  as  she  had  come.  The 
pious  Catherine  pondered  long  on  the  meaning  of  this  and  what  it 
demanded  of  her.  She  decided  that  she  had  been  instructed  to  de- 
vote her  children  to  the  Church  if  they  survived  the  plague,  and 
that  the  hot  springs  would  be  the  means  of  their  preservation. 
Praying  that  her  mind  might  be  enlightened  with  heavenly  wisdom 
she  slept  till  morning.  She  then  commanded  that  the  water  from 
the  springs  should  be  allowed  to  flow  through  all  the  streets.  As 
soon  as  this  was  done  a  thick  vapor  was  spread  through  the  town 
and  its  surroundings.  From  this  time  the  plague  was  stayed.  The 
water  was  then  freely  used,  and  soon  no  traces  of  the  dreadful  dis- 
ease remained  save  the  sorrow  in  the  hearts  of  those  whose  dear 
ones  were  gone.    The  Princess  Margaret  afterwards  took  the  veil  at 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


335 


Lichtenthal,  and  Frederic  entered  the  Church.  He  became  Bishop 
of  Utrecht,  and  his  monument  is  in  the  great  church  at  Baden- 
Baden. 

The  Mummelsee,  At  some  distance  from  Baden-Baden,  between 
Sassbachwalden  and  Oberkappel,  in  the  northern  portion  of  the 
Black  Forest,  there  is  a  long  range  of  hills,  —  they  are  about 
3,800  feet  high.  They  are  called  Hornisgrinde,  and  the  southern 
point  is  Greuzberg.  Here  is  the  Mummelsee,  a  large  lake  whose 
waters  are  generally  calm,  but  at  times  stirred  as  from  the  very 
depths  and  tossed  in  billowy  waves.  This  occurs  too  when  all  is 
peaceful  on  the  land  and  scarcely  a  leaf  stirred  in  the  forest ;  when 
the  silence  is  unbroken,  save  by  the  raven's  cry,  and  it  would  seem 
that  some  fearful  tumult  must  exist  within  the  lake  and  thus  mani- 
fest itself  upott  the  surface.  It  is  in  short  a  gloomy  and  soul  de- 
pressing spot.  It  takes  its  name  from  the  water-nymphs  who  are 
said  to  dwell  there,  —  beautiful  Undines,  whose  homes  are  in  ever- 
verdant  and  luxuriant  gardens,  where  the  orange  blooms  among  the 
blood-red  coral,  and  a  thousand  flowers  and  glistening  crystals  com- 
bine to  make  a  scene  of  untold  beauty.  The  nymphs,  themselves  so 
ethereal  and  lovely,  are  as  if  formed  of  snowy  lilies  with  the  exqui- 
site blush  of  a  delicate  rose.  Every  month,  when  the  moon  is  at  the 
full,  they  rise  to  the  top  of  the  lake  to  revel  in  the  moonlight  which 
cannot  penetrate  to  their  subterranean  home.  They  frolic  and  jest, 
swim  and  dive  hither  and  thither  with  the  utmost  abandon  of 
joyousness.  But  when  the  cock  crows  and  the  first  streak  of  dawn 
appears,  they  must  descend  to  their  sea-home  and  wait  until  Madame 
Luna  again  puts  on  her  broadest  smile  of  invitation.  Sometimes 
they  are  forgetful  of  the  hour,  and  the  cock's  crow  and  the  morning 
light  are  equally  unheeded  by  these  frolicking  nymphs.  Then  there 
appears  an  ugly  old  water  dwarf  who  orders  them  home  with  such  a 
voice  and  manner  as  cannot  be  disobeyed ;  and  the  waters  are  left 
as  dull  and  gloomy  as  if  there  were  no  joy  and  beauty  in  all  the 
earth. 

The  Pulpits  of  the  Angel  and  the  Devil.  One  of  the  finest  views 
near  Baden-Baden  can  be  had  from  what  is  called  the  Devil's 
Pulpit.  It  is  a  high  rock  on  the  road  to  Gernsbach,  just  where  it 
turns  off  to  Ebersteinburg.  It  is  surrounded  with  beautiful  trees  and 
not  difficult  of  ascent.  It  gained  its  name  from  the  following  cir- 
cumstances :  About  the  time  that  the  Christian  Gospel  was  first 
preached  in  Germany  and  many  were  converted,  the  Devil  was  so 
much  disturbed,  that  he  decided  to  make  some  great  exertions  to 
stop  the  progress  of  these  new  doctrines,  so  fatal  to  his  dominion  in 
Rhineland.  So  he  was  accustomed  to  leave  the  lower  regions  near 
the  source  of  the  hot  springs  (which  place  on  this  account  was  called 
Hell),  and  proceed  to  the  rock  before  described  to  teach  and  preach 
his  dangerous  and  seductive  doctrines.    He  is,  as  all  admit,  a  fine 


336 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


orator,  and  employs  every  art  that  can  increase  the  power  of  what 
he  says.  He  described  the  good  gifts  he  lavishes  on  his  devotees  ; 
the  pleasures  of  the  world,  the  gratifications  of  ambition,  the 
glories  of  pomp  and  power,  the  comforts  of  wealth,  the  revels  of  the 
gay  and  licentious,  —  and  all  this  in  language  so  fascinating,  with 
touches  of  poetic  inspiration,  always  in  exactly  the  right  place  to 
catch  the  ear  of  the  sentimental  hearer,  with  arguments  of  ap- 
parent reason,  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  cooler  headed  ones,  with 
a  metaphysical  mystery  for  those  who  would  appreciate  that  style  of 
thing,  and  in  short,  with  some  nice,  little,  well-turned  sentence,  ex- 
actly suited  to  tickle  the  ears  of  each  one  who  listened.  Many 
were  affected  by  all  this,  and  just  prepared  to  take  him  for  their 
leader,  when  a  strange  sound  was  heard  through  the  air,  and  lo,  a 
bright  and  glistening  light  was  seen  on  a  rock  opposite  to  that  on 
which  the  Devil  stood,  and  as  it  separated  a  little,  there  appeared 
in  its  midst  a  glorious  angel,  holding  in  his  hand  the  branch  of 
peace.  Then  he  addressed  the  assembly  in  a  manner  so  unlike  the 
other  as  to  chain  the  attention  from  the  very  first  word  he  spoke. 
He  showed  the  value  of  what  had  been  offered  in  comparison  to 
happiness  and  lasting  peace.  He  told  them  how  one  life  brought 
death,  the  other  life,  —  and  both  eternal.  Wonderful  was  the 
effect  of  all  he  said.  He  strengthened  the  weakened,  gave  courage 
to  the  hopeless,  and  faith  to  the  doubting,  and  even  touched  the 
hearts  of  those  who  disbelieved.  Then  Satan  raved  in  his  madness, 
and  attempted  again  to  address  the  listeners,  for  he  saw  that  his 
cause  was  fast  being  lost.  Just  then  the  thunder  roared,  the  light- 
nings flashed,  and  the  winds  blew  from  every  point.  The  confusion 
of  earth  and  sky  was  fearful.  The  angel  held  the  branch  threat- 
eningly toward  the  Evil  One.  A  fearful  shriek  rent  the  air ;  the 
devil  fell  over  the  dread  precipice,  and  was  lost  in  the  earth  which 
yawned  to  receive  him.  Then  all  fell  on  their  knees,  and  the  air 
now  calm  was  filled  with  praise  and  prayer,  in  the  midst  of  which 
the  Heavenly  Messenger  vanished  from  the  sight  of  those  whom  he 
had  saved  from  sin  and  death. 

The  Rocks,  Many  long  years  ago  there  stood  a  lonely  castle 
not  far  from  Baden- Scheuern.  It  was  the  home  of  Immo,  the  wild 
huntsman.  No  one  dwelt  with  him  save  an  old  man  and  woman 
who  attended  to  his  wants  and  comforts.  His  only  companion  was 
his  faithful  dog.  So  fond  was  Immo  of  hunting  that  it  never  lost  its 
charm,  and  filled  in  his  life  the  place  of  society  and  friends,  of 
business  and  literature,  of  love,  wife,  and  children ;  in  a  word,  it 
was  his  all.  And  his  skill  was  such  that  he  seldom  failed  to  hit  the 
mark  at  which  he  aimed.  What  then  was  his  surprise  one  day, 
when  he  fired  with  perfect  confidence  at  a  white  doe,  to  see  his 
arrow  fall  far  short  of  his  intended  game  ?  He  was  astonished  and 
annoyed,  and  at  the  same  time  he  felt  a  singular  admiration  for  the 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


337 


beautiful  creature  he  would  have  slain.  He  determined  to  follow  it. 
When  the  doe  reached  a  place  where  the  rocks  rose  abruptly  toward 
the  clouds  it  sprang  into  an  opening  in  the  crags.  Immo  now  felt 
sure  of  his  prey,  but  suddenly  as  he  advanced  a  lovely  woman  stood 
before  him.  With  one  hand  she  softly  petted  the  frightened  doe, 
and  with  the  other  pointed  toward  the  hunter  as  if  to  threaten  him. 
She  spoke  in  a  low,  sweet  voice  :  Immo,  why  followest  thou  my 
doe  ?  "  The  wild  hunter  was  overcome  with  admiration  and  sur- 
prise. He  knelt  before  her,  but  he  shaded  his  eyes  from  the  daz- 
zling light  which  beamed  around  her.  AVhen  he  again  looked  up 
both  doe  and  maiden  had  vanished,  and  ugly  goblins  looked  mock- 
ingly down  on  him  from  all  the  rocks.  But  in  these  few  moments 
the  life  of  Immo  was  changed.  He  went  home  with  pensive  heart, 
and  from  that  day  he  never  hunted  more. 

The  Wildsee,  Not  many  miles  from  the  Mummelsee  toward 
the  south  there  lies  another  gloomy  lake  called  the  Wildsee.  From 
it  flows  the  Schonmiinzach,  which  empties  into  the  Murg.  Upon 
its  shores  are  vast  fir  forests  which  cast  a  gloomy  shade  far  over  the 
lake.  Here  dwell  water-sprites  who  come  more  frequently  to  the 
surface  than  do  those  of  the  Mummelsee.  They  leave  the  water  and 
sit  on  the  banks  weaving  garlands,  playing  their  lutes  and  singing, 
or  amusing  themselves  by  telling  stories,  talking  of  each  other  and 
the  fashions,  very  much  as  ladies  do.  For  while  these  nymphs 
know  little  of  flounces  or  puff's,  and  have  no  conception  of  drapery 
and  its  effects ;  yet  the  manner  of  weaving  their  garlands,  the  width 
of  their  bracelets  and  anklets  plaited  of  finest  grass,  and  the  most 
becoming  shade  of  coral,  are  topics  as  inexhaustible  and  full  of  in- 
terest as  are  those  Paris  styles  of  which  Ave  hear  so  much.  Now 
it  happened  once  on  a  time,  that  Bernfried  of  Schonengrund  tended 
his  flock  quite  near  this  lake  ;  and  as  he  lay  stretched  upon  a  moss 
bank  thinking  and  dozing  away  the  autumn  day,  he  heard  a  strain 
of  music  more  sweet  than  ever  before  had  met  his  ear.  The  clear 
tones  of  the  voice  thrilled  to  his  very  soul,  and  he  sprang  up  with 
flashing  eyes  and  beating  heart  to  listen  with  delight.  Long  time 
he  waited,  until  it  seemed  that  some  spell  was  on  him,  and  then 
sprang  forward  toward  the  lake  from  which  the  sound  proceeded. 
A  woodman  who  saw  him,  and  who  well  knew  the  nature  of  the 
singer  and  the  sad  effects  of  gazing  on  her,  tried  to  detain  him,  but 
in  vain.  Bernfried  dashed  on  until  he  saw  a  lovely  maiden  upon 
the  rocky  shore.  Beside  her  was  a  white  doe,  decked  with  garlands, 
while  she  played  a  sweet-toned  harp.  He  knew  not  which  most  to 
admire,  her  beauty  or  her  grace.  Luxuriant  blonde  hair  fell  in 
waves  about  her  neck  and  bosom,  and  as  she  sang  her  coral  lips  and 
pearly  teeth  were  more  bewitching  than  his  wildest  imagination 
could  have  conceived.  But  what  was  more  wonderful  than  all,  as 
soon  as  she  heard  the  step  of  Bernfried,  she  gave  but  a  glance  to- 
22 


338 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


ward  him,  and  sprang  into  the  middle  of  the  lake.  The  dark  waters 
hissed  and  bubbled  over  her,  and  she  was  hidden  from  the  gaze  of 
the  young  shepherd.  But  alas,  that  single  glance  had  deprived 
him  of  his  reason  !  From  that  moment  he  was  wild  and  under  the 
effect  of  a  strange  madness.  He*  wandered  from  place  to  place, 
and  at  length  so  far  away  that  he  never  more  was  seen  by  those 
who  knew  and  loved  Bernfried  the  Shepherd. 

Windeck,  The  castle  of  this  name  stands  high  above  the  town 
of  Buhl,  about  eight  miles  from  Baden-Baden.  It  is  said  to  be 
haunted  by  the  spirit  of  a  beautiful  girl  who  appears  here  from  time 
to  time.  A  young  sportsman  once  saw  her,  and  she  offered  him  a 
glass  of  delicious  wine.  He  was  so  charmed  by  her  that  he  returned 
day  after  day  in  hopes  again  to  meet  her,  but  each  day  he  was  dis- 
appointed. At  length  he  took  up  his  abode  in  the  lonely  place  and 
was  called  the  "  Lord  of  the  Castle."  One  morning  he  was  found 
dead,  but  on  his  face  was  a  smile  so  radiant  that  all  who  saw  be- 
lieved he  must  have  died  while  gazing  on  the  face  of  his  much  loved 
spirit  maiden.  On  his  finger  was  a  ring  never  seen  there  before. 
This  confirmed  the  opinion  that  he  had  seen  her,  and  some  believed 
that  her  kiss  had  been  fatal  to  him.  He  was  solemnly  buried  in  the 
vault  of  the  castle  by  the  side  of  his  unearthly  bride. 

The  Marriage  of  the  Ghost  at  Castle  Lauf.  This  is  another  name 
for  Castle  Windeck,  and  the  present  legend  refers  in  all  proba- 
bility to  the  same  girlish  spirit.  Long  time  ago  a  young  page  who 
had  wandered  out  of  the  right  way  sought  the  shelter  of  the  castle. 
He  saw  a  light  in  one  of  the  rooms  and  made  his  way  to  it.  It  was 
a  reception-room,  and  in  it  was  a  beautiful  girl.  She  seemed  buried 
in  thought  and  did  not  notice  the  entrance  of  the  page.  Her  beauty 
was  only  equaled  by  her  sadness,  which  gave  a  sorrowful  air  to  face 
and  form,  and  seemed  to  have  stolen  all  color  from  her  cheeks.  When 
the  youth  spoke  she  raised  her  eyes  and  nodded  gently  to  him.  He 
asked  for  lodging  and  a  supper,  and  begged  pardon  for  his  intrusion, 
for  which  his  only  excuse  must  be  that  he  had  lost  his  way  in  the 
darkness.  She  answered  nothing,  but  left  the  room.  Soon  she 
returned  and  brought  venison,  fowls,  and  other  delicious  viands,  as 
well  as  wines,  of  which  she  motioned  him  to  partake.  After  refresh- 
ing himself  and  becoming  more  cheerful  from  the  effects  of  the  wine, 
he  ventured  to  address  her  :  "  You  are  the  daughter  of  the  house, 
if  I  mistake  not."  She  nodded  assent.  "  And  your  parents  ?  " 
asked  he.  She  pointed  to  the  portraits  which  hung  upon  the  wall, 
and  sadly  said,  I  am  the  last  of  my  race."  The  youth  continued 
to  regard  her  with  ever-increasing  admiration,  and  the  more  wine 
he  drank,  the  more  he  found  in  the  pale  maiden  to  approve  and  the 
more  lovely  she  appeared.  At  length  he  reflected  that  this  was  an 
opportunity  of  making  his  fortune  such  as  seldom  occurred,  and  not 
to  be  slighted.    He  then  asked  her  if  she  had  a  lover  or  was  prom- 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


339 


ised  in  marriage,  and  when  she  answered  in  the  negative,  he  imme- 
diately begged  that  she  would  be  his  bride,  and  declared  the  passion 
with  which  from  the  first  moment  of  his  entrance  she  had  inspired 
him.  At  this  her  pale,  sad  face  was  illumined  with  light  and  joy. 
She  arose  instantly  and  took  from  a  drawer  two  rings  and  a  rose- 
mary wreath.  She  then  made  a  sign  for  him  to  follow  whither  she 
should  lead.  At  this  moment  two  old  and  venerable  men,  dressed 
in  rich  gala  attire  entered  the  apartment.  They  accompanied  the 
young  couple  to  the  chapel  of  the  castle.  In  it  there  were  many 
monuments  and  splendid  memorials  of  the  family  who  had  formerly 
dwelt  here.  Among  them  was  a  statue  of  a  bishop.  This  the 
maiden  touched  as  she  passed  on,  and  it  instantly  rose  and  proceeded 
to  the  altar.  The  candles  which  were  apparently  arranged  for  some 
impressive  service,  had  meanwhile  lighted  themselves,  and  all  was 
ready  for  the  marriage.  The  face  of  the  bishop  lighted  up,  and  his 
eyes  shone  as  if  he  was  full  of  joy.  Then  in  a  deep,  impressive 
voice  he  said,  "  Kurt  of  Klein,  are  you  resolved  to  take  Bertha  of 
Windeck,  to  be  your  wedded  wife  ?  "  The  heart  of  the  youth  died 
within  him  and  he  could  not  answer.  Just  then  a  cock  crew,  and  a 
gust  of  wind  swept  through  the  place  as  if  it  would  destroy  the 
chapel  and  all  that  it  contained.  Instantly  the  whole  company  dis- 
appeared, the  candles  were  out  and  the  bishop  had  again  become  a 
brazen  statue.  Kurt  fell  senseless  to  the  floor,  but  when  he  recov- 
ered himself  he  was  lying  in  the  court-yard  of  the  castle,  and  his 
horse  was  quietly  feeding  by  his  side. 

The  "  Hennegraben."  Near  this  same  Windeck  Castle  the  traces 
of  a  deep  ditch  are  to  be  seen.  The  neighboring  farm  was  named 
from  it,  and  the  legend  connected  with  it  is  as  follows  :  Many  long 
years  ago  when  a  certain  Dean  of  Strasbourg  was  the  prisoner  of  the 
knight  of  Windeck,  there  lived  at  Wolfshag  an  old  woman,  who 
was  called  through  all  the  country  round,  "  The  Woman  of  the 
Woods."  One  evening  as  she  sat  at  the  door  of  her  cot,  two 
delicate  looking  and  pleasing  youths  passed  by.  "  Whither  go 
you  ?  "  questioned  the  old  woman.  "  We  go  to  the  Castle  Windeck," 
replied  the  elder  with  a  blush ;  "  our  uncle,  the  Dean  of  Strasbourg, 
is  prisoner  there  and  we  desire  to  give  ourselves  as  hostages  for  him 
until  he  can  pay  his  ransom."  "  What !  "  exclaimed  she,  "  do  you 
expect  the  knight  will  receive  such  hostages  as  you  ?  and  how  could 
you  bear  imprisonment  ?  "  —  saying  which  she  looked  with  cunning 
eyes  at  the  elder  of  the  two,  who  only  blushed  and  looked  away,  then 
quickly  said,  ^*  God  will  assist  us,  for  our  dear  uncle  is  the  only  one 
to  care  for  us,  and  all  our  support."  Then  the  younger  of  the  two 
cried  out,  "  But  I  will  challenge  the  Knight  of  Windeck  !  Indeed, 
I  will !  for  I  too  am  a  knight,  and  I  will  deliver  our  uncle."  "  Gentl}^, 
Cuno,  we  must  entreat,  we  cannot  defy,"  said  the  elder  brother. 
"  Pshaw  !  Imma  ;  you  may  sue  and  pray,  but  I  will  not !  "  Then 


340 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


the  maiden  blushed  painfully  at  the  careless  words  of  her  brother, 
which  thus  revealed  her  sex.  But  the  old  woman  said,  "  Do  not  be 
troubled,  maiden.  I  saw  through  your  disguise  at  my  first  glance  ; 
but  you  are  honest,  and  I  like  you  and  will  assist  you.  Go  to  the 
castle  and  tell  the  Knight  of  Windeck  that  I  sent  you  to  warn  him 
that  the  people  of  Strasbourg  have  agreed  to  attack  him  and  he 
must  hasten  to  make  a  ditch  on  the  only  side  where  ascent  is  possi- 
ble. And  as  his  time  is  short,  I  will  give  you  something  which  will 
help  him."  She  then  gave  a  peculiar  whistle,  whereupon  a  gray  hen 
came  to  her,  and  perched  itself  upon  her  shoulder.  "  Here,  my  child, 
take  this.  Bring  it  to  the  castle,  and  when  it  is  dark  and  the  moon 
risen,  carry  it  where  the  ditch  should  be  and  leave  the  rest  to  us." 
The  brothers  were  amazed,  but  the  old  woman  was  so  kind  they 
could  not  refuse  obedience.  She  then  said  something  to  the  hen  in 
a  strange  tongue,  and  gave  it  to  them  with  other  charges  to  take  care 
of  it,  and  do  as  she  had  commanded  them.  So  they  went  on  until 
they  reached  the  castle  and  were  presented  to  the  knight.  He  was 
young  and  handsome,  and  received  them  with  kindness.  The  maiden 
hesitated  and  blushed,  and  could  scarcely  find  words  to  make  her 
request.  The  knight  seemed  to  enjoy  this  confusion,  and  did  not  in 
the  least  assist  her,  but  gazed  on  her  in  such  a  way  as  not  at  all  to 
reassure  her.  At  length  she  explained  why  they  were  come,  and 
begged  him  to  accept  them  as  hostages.  She  also  gave  him  the 
hen  and  the  message  of  the  old  woman.  A  strange  emotion  stirred 
the  soul  of  the  knight  as  he  listened  to  her  proposition,  and  with 
great  kindness  promised  to  take  them  to  their  uncle.  Meanwhile 
the  younger  boy  had  touched  the  belt  and  arms  of  the  knight  and 
expressed  his  childish  admiration  for  them.  The  knight  spoke  kindly 
to  him  and  took  him  in  his  arms,  bidding  the  elder  to  follow.  The 
Dean  was  a  prisoner  in  but  a  single  respect,  —  he  could  not  leave  his 
prison.  He  was  confined  to  a  certain  suite  of  apartments,  but  they 
contained  all  he  could  desire  for  comfort  or  amusement.  In  spite  of 
this  he  was  gloomy  and  dejected.  The  thought  that  he  was  in  the 
power  of  his  enemy  oppressed  him,  and  the  many  duties  he  was 
detained  from  performing  weighed  heavily  upon  his  mind.  Often  he 
thought  of  Imma  and  Cuno,  and  prayed  the  Holy  Mother  to  guard 
them  from  every  danger.  At  times  he  succeeded  in  losing  himself 
in  books,  and  mental  activity  dulled  the  pain  of  his  grief.  It  was  at 
such  a  moment  that  the  knight  entered  with  the  maiden  and  her 
brother.  The  heart  of  the  former  beat  with  such  force  beneath  her 
doublet  as  she  stood  before  him  that  she  feared  lest  it  should  burst. 
But  the  boy  sprang  forward  and  cried  out,  "  O,  uncle,  darling 
uncle  !  See,  Imma  and  I  are  come  to  set  you  free  ! "  The  knight  was 
much  astonished  when  the  maiden's  secret  was  thus  revealed,  but  he 
did  not  allow  his  surprise  to  betray  itself.  He  only  reached  his  hand 
to  the  Dean,  saying,  "  Do  you  hear  ?    If  you  will  yield  these  children 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


341 


to  me  as  hostages  you  are  free,  but  I  will  not  promise  to  return  them 
to  you  soon."  Then  to  the  maiden  he  said,  "  Now  my  fine  page, 
which  will  you  choose  to  be,  a  soldier  or  to  take  a  place  in  my  house- 
hold? You  seem  more  fitted  for  the  latter."  Imma  looked  at  him 
with  a  glance  of  such  tender  reproof  that  he  could  no  longer  resist 
his  desire  to  embrace  her,  and  tenderly  pressing  her  to  his  heart  he 
said  softly,  ^'  Tell  me,  will  you  have  my  home  for  yours,  and  me  for 
your  husband  and  protector,  or  will  you  leave  me  with  your  uncle  ?  " 
She  spoke  not,  but  as  he  gazed  on  her  he  read  his  answer  in  her 
face,  and  in  the  tears  she  shed  upon  his  bosom,  for  he  cheerfully 
summoned  the  Dean  to  change  his  prisoner's  dress  for  the  surplice, 
and  to  become  his  uncle  in  place  of  his  enemy.  The  Dean  hesitated 
to  consent,  but  Imma  added  her  persuasions  to  those  of  the  knight, 
and  at  length  he  joined  their  hands  with  solemn  blessings.  The  hen 
was  placed  according  to  the  directions  of  the  old  woman,  and  when 
the  men  of  Strasbourg  came  they  found  a  ditch  filled  with  the  sol- 
diers of  Castle  Windeck,  and  in  place  of  the  battle  they  had  come  to 
fight,  they  joined  in  the  wedding-dance  and  drank  to  the  good  health 
of  the  Knight  of  Windeck  and  his  young  Strasbourg  Bride. 

Baldreit.    See  the  legends  of  Baden-Baden. 

Basel  or  Bale.  "  One  hour  in  Advance,^'  A  great  many  years 
ago  when  Basel  was  surrounded  with  enemies,  there  were  also  trai- 
tors in  the  town,  and  they  had  agreed  together  that  at  a  certain  time 
they  would  combine  in  their  movements  and  thus  gain  possession  of 
the  city  ;  the  signal  agreed  on  was  the  striking  of  twelve  by  the 
clock  in  the  tower,  on  a  certain  night.  Fortunately  the  watch- 
man in  the  tower  was  informed  of  this  plan  before  it  was  too 
late  to  prevent  it,  but  not  soon  enough  to  consult  with  any  others 
as  to  what  should  be  done.  Some  cunning  device  alone  could 
interfere  with  the  success  of  the  undertaking.  So  after  a  little 
thought  he  advanced  the  clock  one  hour,  and  in  place  of  midnight, 
it  sounded  one  o'clock.  This  confounded  all,  and  made  both 
those  outside  and  those  within  the  city  doubtful  what  to  do.  Mean- 
while the  watchman  hastened  to  inform  the  magistrate,  and  the 
commandant,  and  their  united  efforts  prevented  any  result  from 
the  treacherous  device,  and  at  length  the  enemy  being  weary  of  the 
siege  retired,  and  left  Bale  without  having  obtained  any  advantage. 
The  magistrate  ordered  the  clock  to  remain  as  the  good  watchman 
had  set  it,  and  for  niany  years,  until  1798,  it  struck  one  o'clock  in 
Bale  when  in  other  places  it  sounded  twelve.  From  this  the  saying 
arose,  that  "  Though  the  inhabitants  of  Basel  are  a  century  behind, 
yet  they  are  one  hour  in  advance  of  all  the  world."  At  Basel  was 
also  the  carved  head  called  the  Lallenkbnig.  It  was  placed  on  the 
clock  of  the  Basel  Bridge  steeple,  and  with  each  motion  of  the  pen- 
dulum the  head  turned  its  eyes  and  thrust  out  its  tongue.  This 
singular  thing  was  made  and  placed  upon  the  clock  after  a  dispute 


342 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


among  the  inhabitants,  and  was  intended  to  ridicule  those  of  Little 
B^le.  This  tower  was  taken  down  and  the  Lallenkonig  destroyed 
in  1839. 

Bingen.  The  Mouse  Tower.  Bishop  Hatto  of  Fulda  was  a 
man  of  high  ambitions,  and  much  desired  to  obtain  the  vacant  arch- 
bishopric of  Mayence.  The  Emperor  Ludwig  and  the  Duke  Otto 
ruled  the  country  as  regents,  and  Hatto  was  so  much  a  favorite  of 
the  emperor  that  he  was  called  the  "  heart  of  the  king.*'  He  was 
at  the  head  of  the  German  clergy,  and  was  governor  of  twelve  rich 
and  powerful  abbeys.  He  made  heavy  taxes  in  order  to  erect  mag- 
nificent buildings,  and  he  it  was  who  first  established  the  temporal 
power  of  the  bishopric  of  Mayence.  Among  other  devices  for 
raising  the  revenues  he  built  a  tower  near  Bingen,  in  the  midst  of 
the  river,  and  all  passing  ships  were  obliged  to  pay  a  toll.  This 
was  considered  extremely  oppressive.  Soon  a  dreadful  famine  visited 
the  bishopric  ;  drought,  hailstorm,  and  vermin  destroyed  all  the  crops, 
and  this  was  rendered  more  distressing  to  the  people  because  the 
bishop  had  bought  up  all  the  grain  and  sold  it  only  for  the  highest 
prices.  For  this  the  tradition  makes  him  suffer  a  terrible  death,  in- 
flicted miraculously  as  a  direct  judgment  from  Heaven.  This  legend 
is  related  in  the  following  lines  by  Southey  :  — 

"  The  summer  and  autumn  had  been  so  wet, 
That  in  winter  the  corn  was  growing  yet; 
'Twas  a  piteous  sight,  to  see,  all  around 
The  grain  lie  rotting  on  the  ground. 

"  Every  day  the  starving  poor 
Crowded  around  Bishop  Hatto's  door, 
For  he  had  a  plentiful  last-year's  store, 
And  all  the  neighborhood  could  tell 
His  granaries  were  furnished  well. 

"  At  last  Bishop  Hatto  appointed  a  day 
To  quiet  the  poor  without  delay: 
He  bade  them  to  his  great  barn  repair. 
And  they  should  have  food  for  the  winter  there. 

"  Rejoiced  such  tidings  good  to  hear, 
The  poor  folk  flocked  from  far  and  near, 
The  great  barn  was  full  as  it  could  hold 
Of  women  and  children,  and  young  and  old. 

Then  when  he  saw  it  could  hold  no  more, 
Bishop  Hatto  he  made  fast  the  door ; 
And  while  for  mercy  on  Christ  they  call. 
He  set  fire  to  the  barn  and  burnt  them  all. 

"  '  I'  faith,  'tis  an  excellent  bonfire !  '  quoth  he, 
*  And  the  country  is  greatly  obliged  to  me. 
For  ridding  it  in  these  times  forlorn 
Of  rats  that  only  consume  the  corn.* 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


343 


"  So  then  to  his  palace  returned  he, 
And  he  sat  down  to  his  supper  merrily, 
And  he  slept  that  night  like  an  innocent  man ;  — 
But  Bishop  Hatto  never  slept  again. 

"  In  the  morning  as  he  entered  the  hall 
Where  his  picture  hung  against  the  wall, 
A  sweat  like  death  all  over  him  came. 
For  the  rats  had  eaten  it  out  of  the  frame. 

"  As  he  looked  there  came  a  man  from  his  farm : 
He  had  a  countenance  white  with  alarm ; 

*  My  lord,  I  opened  your  granaries  this  morn, 
And  the  rats  had  eaten  all  your  corn.' 

"  Another  came  running  presently, 
And  he  was  pale  as  pale  could  be,  — 

*  Fly !  my  Lord  Bishop,  fly,'  quoth  he, 

*  Ten  thousand  rats  are  coming  this  way,  — 
The  Lord  forgive  you  for  yesterday ! ' 

<*  *  I'll  go  to  my  tower  on  the  Rhine,*  replied  he, 
*'Tis  the  safest  place  in  Germany: 
The  walls  are  high,  and  the  shores  are  steep. 
And  the  stream  is  strong,  and  the  water  deep.' 

Bishop  Hatto  fearfully  hastened  away, 
And  he  crossed  the  Rhine  without  delay. 
And  reached  his  tower,  and  barred  with  care 
All  the  windows,  doors,  and  loop-holes  there. 

"  He  laid  him  down  and  closed  his  eyes ;  — 
But  soon  a  scream  made  him  arise: 
He  started,  and  saw  two  eyes  of  flame 
On  his  pillow,  from  whence  the  screaming  came. 

*'  He  listened  and  looked :  it  was  only  the  cat ; 
But  the  Bishop  he  grew  more  fearful  for  that ; 
For  she  sat  screaming,  mad  with  fear 
At  the  army  of  rats  that  were  drawing  near. 

"  For  they  have  swam  over  the  river  so  deep, 
And  they  have  climbed  the  shores  so  steep. 
And  up  the  tower  their  way  is  bent,  — 
To  do  the  work  for  which  they  were  sent. 

"  They  are  not  to  be  told  by  the  dozen  or  score ; 
By  thousands  they  come,  and  by  myriads  and  more. 
Such  numbers  had  never  been  heard  of  before; 
Such  a  judgment  had  never  been  witnessed  of  yore. 

"  Down  on  his  knees  the  Bishop  fell, 
And  faster  and  faster  his  beads  did  he  tell. 
As  louder  and  louder  drawing  near 
The  gnawing  of  their  teeth  he  could  hear. 

"  And  in  at  the  windows,  and  in  at  the  door. 
And  through  the  walls,  helter-skelter  they  pour, 


344 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


And  down  from  the  ceiling,  and  up  through  the  floor, 
From  the  right  and  the  left,  from  behind  and  before, 
From  within  and  without,  from  above  and  below, 
And  all  at  once  to  the  Bishop  they  go. 

"  They  have  whetted  their  teeth  against  the  stones; 
And  now  they  pick  the  Bishop's  bones; 
They  gnawed  the  flesh  from  every  limb. 
For  they  were  sent  to  do  judgment  on  him." 

Another  legend  of  the  Mouse-tower  (Mausethurm)  relates,  that 
when  during  the  Thirty  Years'  War,  the  Swedes  took  possession  of  all 
the  castles  on  the  Rhine,  the  Mouse-tower  was  held  by  the  knights 
of  the  Teutonic  Order.  It  was  a  very  important  point,  commanding 
as  it  did  the  passage  of  the  river.  The  knights  well  knew  this,  and 
defended  it  with  great  courage.  At  length  all  but  a  single  one  were 
killed.  His  enemies  were  filled  with  admiration  of  his  valor,  and 
could  not  have  the  heart  to  murder  him.  Tliey  called  on  him  to 
surrender,  but  his  reply  rang  out,  "  Mercy  neither  for  you  nor  for 
me.  Knights  can  die,  but  cannot  surrender."  Then  he  seized  the 
tricolor,  and  cutting  a  way  through  the  foe  he  plunged  into  the  river. 
The  Swedes  made  earnest  endeavors  to  recover  his  body,  and  sought 
especially  for  the  flag,  but  neither  could  be  found.  The  Khine  re- 
mained the  faithful  guardian  of  what  was  thus  consigned  to  its  care. 

The  Holy  Rupert,  During  the  reign  of  the  pious  Ludwig,  Sax- 
ony was  governed  by  the  Duke  Kobolaus.  He  was  wild  and  full 
of  courage,  and  possessed  of  great  skill  in  arms  and  all  manly 
exercises  ;  but  he  was  not  favorable  to  the  Christians.  In  spite 
of  this  he  was  deeply  in  love  with  Bertha,  the  daughter  of  one 
of  the  most  powerful  dukes  upon  the  Rhine ;  and  his  passion  was 
ardently  returned,  although  she  was  a  quiet,  amiable,  and  devout 
maiden.  She  flattered  herself  with  the  hope  that  under  the  influ- 
ence of  her  love,  Robolaus  himself  would  become  a  Christian.  But 
her  endeavors  to  effect  this  change  enraged  him,  and  he  became  so 
sulky  and  unkind  that  Bertha  was  obliged  to  leave  him,  and  went  to 
a  distant  castle  where  she  gave  birth  to  a  son,  whom  she  called 
Rupert.  Him  she  determined  to  so  educate,  that  he  should  as 
greatly  excel  in  virtue  as  did  his  father  in  courage  and  arms. 
Robolaus  fell  in  battle  while  the  child  was  still  young.  Then 
Bertha  forgot  all  his  faults,  and  magnifying  his  virtues  mourned  him 
sincerely.  She  determined  to  remove  to  the  ducal  palace  of  her 
father  at  Bingen.  Here  she  refused  many  offers  of  marriage,  and 
devoted  herself  entirely  to  the  little  Rupert.  He  fully  repaid  her 
cares,  and  was  early  distinguished  by  many  graces  of  character, 
but  by  none  so  much  as  that  of  charity,  and  love  of  doing  good 
to  the  poor  and  suffering ;  he  divided  all  he  had  with  them, 
and  when  Bertha  would  have  built  a  church  he  opposed  it,  saying, 
"  First  feed  the  hungry  and  clothe  the  naked."    When  he  was 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


345 


older,  although  universally  beloved,  he  was  urged  to  acquire  such 
knightly  accomplishments  as  befitted  his  rank,  and  was  frequently 
rallied  on  account  of  his  lack  of  them.  But  neither  advice  or 
raillery  moved  him.  He  still  devoted  himself  to  works  of  charity. 
One  day  as  he  slept  on  the  bank  of  the  Rhine  he  had  a  wonderful 
vision  :  A  venerable  old  man  stood  in  the  river  surrounded  by  a 
troop  of  boys ;  he  dipped  them,  one  after  the  other  in  the  stream,  and 
they  emerged  more  lovely  than  before.  Then  a  beautiful  island,  well 
realizing  in  its  fruits  and  flowers,  its  birds  and  their  sweet  songs,  his 
idea  of  Paradise,  rose  in  the  midst  of  the  stream.  Thither  the  old 
man  led  the  boys,  and  clothed  them  in  shining  garments.  Then 
Rupert  hastened  to  request  that  he  too  might  be  allowed  to  go  to 
the  lovely  island,  but  the  old  man  solemnly  replied,  "  This  is  not 
a  place  for  you,  Rupert ;  your  life  of  charity  and  holiness  renders 
you  worthy  of  the  life  in  heaven,  and  to  see  the  face  of  the  Trans- 
figured.*' At  these  words  there  arose  from  the  island,  a  beautifully 
brilliant  rainbow,  and  Rupert  saw  a  band  of  angels  with  golden 
wings,  and  in  their  midst  the  Infant  Christ  appeared  in  indescribable 
glory.  At  his  side  knelt  St.  John,  and  two  angels  soared  above 
him,  holding  a  garment  which  Rupert  had  recently  given  to  a  poor 
child.  With  this  they  clothed  the  divine  child,  who  said,  "  You 
have  fed  the  hungry,  and  clothed  the  naked ;  for  such  works  are 
given  the  higher  rewards  of  eternal  glory.''  Rupert  in  an  ecstasy, 
stretched  out  his  hands  to  the  lovely  vision.  It  vanished,  and  he 
awoke.  From  this  time  he  determined  to  resign  all  worldly  honors. 
He  told  his  mother  of  his  intention  to  visit  Rome  and  the  Holy  Sepul- 
chre, after  which  he  would  return  to  Rome,  there  to  pass  his  days  in 
religious  labors.  Now  although  his  mother  had  educated  him  relig- 
iously, she  had  intended  that  he  should  be  a  knight,  and  support  the 
state  and  dignity  which  was  his  right.  But  no  persuasions  could 
obtain  from  him  more  than  a  promise  to  return  to  her  for  a  short 
time,  and  he  renounced  all  honors  of  rank  and  riches,  preferring 
thereto  the  staff  of  the  pilgrim.  After  a  year  of  wandering  he 
returned.  His  privations  had  destroyed  his  health,  and  he  came 
to  his  mother  to  die  in  her  arms.  He  was  not  yet  twenty  years  old. 
The  pious  Bertha  did  not  long  survive  him.  Rupert  has  since  been 
canonized,  and  the  Convent  of  Eubingen  is  said  still  to  contain  the 
garment  which  he  gave  to  the  poor  child,  and  which  was  repre- 
sented in  the  vision. 

The  Prophetess  Hildegarde.  After  the  death  of  Bertha  and  her 
son,  their  estates  were  divided  among  several  relatives,  and  the 
Castle  of  Sponheim  was  built.  Here  the  Knight  of  Bokelheim  lived 
with  his  wife  Matilda,  and  their  only  child,  Hildegarde.  This  child 
was  sent  to  the  Convent  of  Dissibodenberg  to  be  educated.  It  was 
soon  evident  that  she  was  one  set  apart  for  the  service  of  Heaven. 
She  was  a  prophetess,  and  had  many  visions.    She  wrote  much, 


346 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


and  was  especially  severe  in  her  exposures  of  the  corruptions  of  the 
priesthood.  When  St.  Bernard  preached  his  Crusade  he  visited  her, 
and  gained  her  approbation  and  assistance  in  his  great  undertaking. 
He  presented  her  with  a  ring,  inscribed,  "  I  suffer  willingly."  This 
is  still  to  be  seen  at  Wiesbaden.  She  was  made  abbess  of  her 
convent.  Many  of  her  writings  were  in  Latin,  and  she  was  a  learned 
woman.  She  has  been  canonized,  and  her  festival  is  on  the  seven- 
teenth of  September. 

Bonn.  The  Treasure-seeker.  After  the  siege  of  Bonn,  in  the  last 
part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  there  was  much  building  and  repair- 
ing to  be  done,  in  order  to  make  good  that  which  had  been  destroyed 
during  the  war.  All  classes  of  workmen  were  prosperous,  and 
among  them  none  more  so  than  young  Conrad,  the  locksmith.  His 
father  had  been  a  sheriff  at  Endenich,  but  had  lost  his  property  by 
the  war.  His  house  was  burned,  and  his  eldest  son  had  perished  in 
his  attempts  to  save  some  portion  of  their  valuables  from  the  flames, 
and  now  the  old  man  had  come  to  pass  his  remaining  days  with  Con- 
rad. All  went  well  until  the  young  man  fell  in  love  with  Gretchen, 
the  pretty  daughter  of  another  sheriff,  named  Heribert.  This  wooing 
did  not  promise  well,  for  the  father  had  declared  that  none  save  a  man 
of  wealth  should  be  his  son-in-law.  He  himself  had  grown  very 
rich  since  the  war.  No  one  knew  how,  and  all  were  full  of  surmises 
concerning  it.  Some  believed  he  had  gained  wealth  by  supplying 
the  enemy ;  some  that  he  had  discovered  hidden  treasures,  and 
some  that  he  had  dealings  with  evil  spirits ;  and  this  last  opinion 
found  the  larger  number  of  disciples.  But  the  lovers  did  not 
disturb  themselves  about  the  father  or  his  consent.  They  were 
happy  without  it,  until  on  an  occasion,  he  surprised  them  at 
their  love-making,  when  his  fury  was  great  and  he  struck  Conrad 
on  the  head  so  violently  that  he  fell  to  the  ground,  and  marched 
Gretchen  off  in  great  displeasure.  From  that  moment  Heribert 
hated  Conrad,  and  vowed  to  ruin  both  him  and  his  father ;  and 
he  had  the  power  to  do  them  great  injury.  Soon  their  creditors 
were  clamorous,  unwilling  to  await  their  payments  ;  their  property  was 
to  be  sold  and  ruin  staring  them  in  the  face,  and  all  the  result  of 
the  hatred  of  the  rich  Heribert.  But  do  all  he  would  he  could  not 
change  the  heart  of  Gretchen  nor  prevent  her  seeing  her  lover. 
One  evening  Conrad  had  climbed  to  her  chamber  window,  and  at 
midnight  when  all  others  slept  they  softly  discussed  the  sorrows  of 
their  lives,  and  different  plans  for  accomplishing  their  desires.  Sud- 
denly another  window  opened,  and  the  voice  of  the  father  called, 
out,  "  Rogue,  thief,  off  instantly  or  I  shall  shoot  you  dead  !  "  Con- 
rad alarmed  sprang  to  the  ground,  and  then  cried  out  fearlessly  : 
Although  you  have  found  me  at  night  at  your  window,  you 
know  that  I  am  honest,  and  that  love  for  your  daughter  alone  brings 
me  here.    You  hate  me  because  I  am  not  rich,  but  who  can  tell 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


347 


how  you  obtained  your  wealth  ?  I  too  could  have  as  much  from  the 
devilish  Lapp,  if  I  would  consent  to  hold  intercourse  with  him. 
Would  you  not  be  willing  to  give  me  Gretchen  if  I  wooed  her, 
laden  with  wealth  ?  "  A  shot  was  the  only  reply  to  this  speech. 
The  bullet  missed  its  aim,  but  despair  went  to  the  heart  of 
Conrad,  and  he  felt  that  money  alone  could  help  him  to  wed 
with  his  beloved  Gretchen.  As  he  was  thus  returning  home  the 
clock  struck  twelve.  Temptations  came  to  him  and  he  reflected, 
"  How  would  it  be  if  I  were  to  call  on  Lapp,  who  lives  under  the 
graves  in  the  church-yard,  and  answers  those  who  call  at  this  hour  ? 
Be  it  so !  "  and  he  hastened  to  the  spot.  Thrice  he  called  the  fear- 
ful name,  and  a  dreadful  figure  with  flaming  eyes  rose  from  the 
ground  and  stood  before  him.  "  What  is  your  wish  ?  "  it  asked  in 
fear- in  spiring  tones.  "  I  seek  gold,  help  me  to  it !  "  exclaimed  Con- 
rad. Then  the  figure  beckoned  him  to  follow  and  led  the  way  to 
the  forest ;  when  there  it  pointed  to  a  certain  spot  and  put  its  fin- 
ger on  its  lips  in  token  of  silence,  then  it  disappeared.  Conrad  re- 
turned home,  and  this  great  excitement  threw  him  into  a  fever. 
When  he  recovered  from  this,  he  went  to  the  place  which  had  been 
pointed  out,  and  dug  for  gold.  After  some  time  he  came  to  a  chest 
filled  with  coins.  Next  day  he  bought  in  Bonn  a  nice  house ;  he 
furnished  it  to  his  fancy  and  increased  his  business.  He  went  each 
night  to  his  treasure-house  to  bring  away  the  gold,  and  soon  ex- 
celled Heribert  in  his  style  of  living.  He  also  paid  his  father's 
debts  and  released  his  mortgaged  property.  When  all  this  was 
done  he  repeated  his  wooing,  and  this  time  with  very  different  re- 
sults. The  father  was  now  but  too  ready  to  receive  him,  and  the 
marriage  was  celebrated.  But  all  was  not  now  as  smooth  and 
happy  as  he  had  anticipated.  Gretchen  had  all  the  curiosity  of 
her  sex,  and  greatly  desired  to  know  how  Conrad  had  obtained  his 
sudden  wealth,  and  used  all  the  bewitching  arts  which  are  so  effec- 
tive when  employed  by  a  lovely  wife  during  the  honeymoon,  to  find 
out  the  secret.  Conrad  was  about  to  confide  all  to  her  when  sud- 
denly one  evening  he  was  arrested  and  thrown  into  prison.  He  was 
called  on  to  account  for  the  change  in  his  circumstances,  and  as  he 
refused  all  explanation,  the  torture  was  used  to  extort  a  confession 
from  him.  He  then  declared  that  he  had  found  a  treasure.  With 
this  the  court  let  him  rest  from  farther  torture,  and  was  apparently 
satisfied.  His  wife  was  allowed  to  visit  him,  and  listeners  were  set 
to  obtain,  if  possible,  the  whole  truth.  Then  Conrad  told  Gretchen 
all,  and  the  listeners  reported  to  the  judges  how  he  had  obtained 
his  money.  This  produced  no  immediate  effects,  for  although  the 
treasury  could  claim  money  so  obtained,  the  elector  decided  that  if 
Conrad  could  prove  what  he  had  said  to  be  true,  he  would  allow  him 
to  retain  his  riches.  Just  then  when  he  was  considering  how  to  prove 
this,  a  great  cry  was  raised  by  the  Jews  of  Bonn.   One  of  their  num- 


348 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


ber,  Old  Abraham,  who  was  very  rich,  had  disappeared,  was  prob- 
ably murdered.  Of  com^se  Conrad  was  suspected,  again  arrested, 
and  tortured.  He  confessed,  and  said  he  had  an  accomplice,  whom 
he  declared  to  have  been  Heribert,  his  father-in-law,  who  had  killed 
Abraham  by  shooting.  In  this  way  he  hoped  to  be  revenged  on 
him  whom  he  regarded  as  the  cause  of  all  his  troubles.  The  fright- 
ened sheriff  also  confessed  under  the  torture,  and  they  were  con- 
demned to  be  hung.  The  day  of  the  execution  came,  and  they 
were  dragged  forth,  when  a  most  unexpected  person  appeared,  none 
other  than  the  Jew  Abraham.  The  prisoners  were  conducted  to 
their  homes  in  joy.  But  although  he  had  escaped  death,  all  these 
experiences  had  sadly  affected  Conrad.  He  could  neither  work  nor 
be  happy  at  leisure.  Gretchen  too  was  sorrowful.  They  returned 
to  Endenich  where  they  lived  in  the  closest  retirement.  They  had 
no  children,  and  Conrad  left  his  property  to  churches  and  charities, 
in  order  to  atone  as  much  as  possible  for  having  obtained  the  aid  of 
the  spirit  Lapp,  in  his  greediness  for  gold. 

Boppard.  The  Convent  of  Marienhurg.  In  the  days  of  Fred- 
erick I.  there  lived  in  Boppard  a  young  knight,  Conrad,  a  de- 
scendant of  "  Bayer  of  Boppard."  He  was  in  love  with  a  maiden 
also  of  noble  race,  and  determined  to  marry  her  as  soon  as  her 
brother  who  had  accompanied  Frederick  to  Palestine  should  return. 
During  the  absence  of  the  emperor,  robbers  infested  all  the  country 
and  attacked  Conrad  several  times.  He  repulsed  them  successfully, 
and  also  assisted  other  knights  to  do  the  same.  This  caused  him 
to  lead  a  wild  and  irregular  life,  and  he  came  to  feel  that  marriage 
would  perhaps  prove  a  certain  kind  of  slavery,  and  his  love  for 
Maria  gradually  grew  less.  At  length  he  wrote  her  that  he  would 
release  her  from  her  promise.  But  as  soon  as  this  was  done,  his 
conscience  reproached  him  and  he  was  most  unhappy.  He  tried  to 
drown  sorrow  in  wine,  and  went  frequently  to  the  chase.  As  he 
was  hunting  one  day,  he  was  more  joyous  than  usual,  all  nature 
seemed  beautiful,  his  spirits  rose  and  he  was  like  his  former  merry  self. 
The  hounds  soon  found  a  track,  the  chase  became  exciting  and  mad, 
the  stag  disappeared  in  an  underwood  and  the  dogs  followed,  but 
Conrad  took  a  more  open  path.  He  soon  found  that  he  had  been 
misled  and  was  separated  from  the  chase.  He  was  disappointed, 
and  dismounted  to  rest.  Just  then  a  knight  in  full  armor  came  up 
and  challenged  him  to  combat.  He  demanded  who  thus  addressed 
him,  and  asked  that  he  should  raise  his  visor.  Then  the  knight 
replied,  "  I  am  the  brother  of  Maria,  and  challenge  you  to  atone  for 
the  insult  you  have  offered  her."  This,  added  to  his  ill-temper  at 
losing  his  way  and  the  reproofs  of  his  conscience,  rendered  him 
furious.  He  turned  his  horse  directly  and  charged  at  the  knight. 
His  adversary  sunk  down  and  covered  his  bosom  with  his  hands,  for 
the  blood  was  flowing  copiously.    Then  Conrad's  heart  misgave 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


349 


him,  and  he  hastened  to  take  off  the  knight's  helmet,  when  he  was 
filled  with  horror  at  the  sight  of  Maria's  own  sweet  face.  Faintly 
she  spoke,  "  By  your  hand  I  wished  to  fall,  since  life  without  you  is  a 
burden."  In  vain  he  essayed  to  stop  the  life-blood ;  one  moment 
and  she  was  gone.  Then  he  cursed  himself,  and  fell  senseless  upon 
the  body  of  his  beloved  Maria.  So  he  was  found,  and  it  was  with 
much  difficulty  that  he  could  be  taken  away  from  her.  She  received 
a  splendid  burial,  and  above  her  remains  Conrad  erected  a  convent 
which  he  called  Marienburg.  To  this  he  gave  all  his  property,  and 
hastened  away  to  Palestine  to  seek  death,  which  could  alone  reunite 
him  to  Maria.  He  fought  without  armor  and  exposed  himself  in 
every  way.  He  won  much  renown,  but  death  came  not.  At  length 
at  the  storming  of  the  fortress  of  Ptolemais,  he  was  the  first  to  as- 
cend the  ladder,  and  was  killed  by  a  deadly  thrust  from  a  spear. 

Bornhoven.  The  Brothers'  Hatred.  Near  the  Convent  of  Born- 
hofen,  on  the  Rhine,  are  the  ruins  of  a  castle  with  nothing  of 
the  romantic  beauty  that  characterizes  so  many  such  localities  on 
this  charming  river.  Here  dwelt  a  very  rich  knight,  who,  when 
dying,  left  two  sons  and  a  daughter.  Their  mother  had  long  been 
dead,  and  they  had  received  no  loving  care ;  for  the  old  knight  was 
a  wicked  man,  and  had  gained  his  wealth  by  oppression  and  injus- 
tice, at  the  expense  of  all  love  and  respect  from  equals  or  inferiors. 
At  his  death,  besides  his  estates  he  left  a  large  amount  of  gold. 
The  brothers  inherited  all  the  avarice  and  selfishness  of  the  father, 
while  the  sister  was  gentle  and  loving,  and  was,  moreover,  very  relig- 
ious in  life  and  thought.  The  brothers  were  unjust  to  her  in  the 
division  of  the  property,  but  she  would  not  expose  them  to  the  world, 
and  having  employed  that  which  they  chose  to  give  her  in  founding 
religious  houses,  she  entered  a  convent  where  she  lived  in  retirement. 
The  brothers,  who  had  been  agreed  in  robbing  the  sister,  now  quar- 
reled regarding  the  division  of  the  booty  between  themselves,  and 
their  hearts  were  filled  with  hatred  which  was  ever  ready  to  blaze 
forth  on  the  shghtest  occasion.  At  length  the  spark  necessary  to 
kindle  the  flame  was  added  in  the  fact  that  both  loved  the  same 
maiden,  and  she  being  a  coquette,  was  happy  in  the  attempt  to  fas- 
cinate them  both.  Jealousy  added  the  last  particle  of  hatred  that 
they  could  endure,  and  they  drew  their  swords  in  a  duel,  which 
ended  in  the  death  of  both ;  for  in  their  blind  rage  they  ran  upon 
each  others'  swords,  and  both  were  murderers,  while  both  were  mur- 
dered. Since  this  event  gloom  and  melancholy  have  seemed  to 
preside  over  this  spot,  like  avenging  spirits  of  the  unnatural  crimes 
of  the  inimical  brothers. 

Burkhard  Keller  of  Yburg.  See  Baden-Baden. 

Carlsruhe  (Charles'  Rest).  The  Margrave  Charles  of  Baden 
was  a  victorious  warrior,  and  returned  to  his  home  determined  to 
devote  himself  to  the  arts  of  peace  and  the  improvement  of  his  pos- 


350 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


sessions.  He  desired  to  commence  with  the  embellishment  of  Dur- 
lach,  but  court  intrigues  so  opposed  him  that  he  gave  up  the  idea. 
One  day  as  he  was  hunting  in  the  Haardt  forest,  he  laid  down 
beneath  an  oak  and  fell  asleep.  In  a  dream  he  saw  high  above  his 
head,  a  crown  set  with  precious  stones,  and  inscribed,  "  This  is  the 
reward  of  the  noble."  All  around  the  crown  was  a  splendid  city 
with  towers.  A  noble  castle,  well  fitted  for  a  royal  residence,  was 
there,  and  churches  with  spires,  springing  lightly  toward  hea\'en. 
When  he  awoke  his  courtiers  surrounded  him,  for  they  had  sought 
and  found  him  while  asleep.  He  related  his  dream,  and  declared 
his  intention  of  founding  there  just  such  a  city  as  he  had  seen.  He 
would  also  dwell  in  it,  and  his  place  of  burial  should  be  beneath  the 
tree  where  he  had  rested  when  the  vision  came  to  him.  Thus  was 
Carlsruhe  founded,  for  Charles  accomplished  all  that  he  proposed  to 
do. 

Caub,  Castle  Gutenfels.  This  splendid  castle  was  the  scene  of 
a  very  romantic  love-story  about  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  cen- 
tury. Count  Philip  of  Falkenstein  and  his  lovely  sister  Guta  then 
resided  here.  They  attended  a  great  tournament  which  was  held 
at  Cologne.  Guta  had  been  courted  by  many  brave  knights,  and 
had  refused  all  offers  of  marriage.  On  account  of  her  beauty  she 
had  been  selected  to  bestow  the  prize  on  the  victor  of  the  day. 
Among  those  who  contended  for  the  honors  was  a  knight  known  only 
to  the  Bishop  of  Cologne,  whose  guest  he  was,  and  he  assured  those 
assembled  that  the  stranger  was  worthy  to  contend  with  any  in  the 
land.  This  knight  was  splendidly  armed  and  mounted,  and  so  skill- 
ful that  it  was  soon  seen  that  he  would  carry  off  all  prizes.  He  soon 
fixed  his  eyes  on  Guta  with  admiration,  and  when  he  rode  around 
the  lists  as  victor,  he  lowered  his  lance  to  her.  This  unexpected 
attention  so  confused  her  that  she  dropped  her  glove,  which  the 
knight  quickly  caught,  and  begged  that  he  might  retain  it.  This 
she  could  not  refuse,  and  he  fixed  it  upon  his  helmet.  Falkenstein, 
much  pleased  with  these  attentions  to  his  sister,  invited  him  to  call 
on  them  at  their  castle.  This  he  did  a  few  days  later,  and  then 
declared  his  love  to  Guta,  begging  her  to  trust  him  and  wait  a  few 
months  until  he  should  be  able  to  tell  her  of  his  name  and  circum- 
stances. This  she  promised  to  do,  and  after  exchanging  vows  of 
love  and  faithfulness,  they  parted.  Soon  a  war  broke  out,  and  Rich- 
ard of  Cornwallis  was  declared  emperor  and  crowned  at  Frankfort 
Falkenstein,  who  had  been  absent  with  the  army,  found  on  his  return 
that  his  sister  was  sad,  and  apparently  drooping  in  health,  which 
greatly  troubled  him,  but  she  concealed  the  cause  of  her  grief  and 
shut  herself  in  her  own  apartments  much  of  the  time,  where  she 
mourned  the  falseness  of  her  lover,  for  as  the  time  he  had  named  for 
his  return  had  long  since  passed,  all  hope  of  seeing  him  again  had 
left  her.    One  lovely  morning  there  appeared  before  the  castle  a 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


351 


troop  of  cavaliers  magnificently  dressed  and  mounted  on  spirited 
horses.  Falkenstein  hastened  to  meet  them,  and  as  the  leader  dis- 
mounted he  exclaimed,  "  Be  welcome,  my  king !  "  and  they  entered 
the  castle,  but  scarcely  were  they  within  the  walls  when  Richard 
asked  for  Guta.  "  She  is  ill,"  replied  the  brother,  "  and  sees  no  one." 
"  Tell  her  that  King  Richard  demands  her  hand, —  that  will  cure  her." 
"  No,  no,"  said  Falkenstein,  "  I  believe  it  not,  for  she  will  not  marry, 
though  many  and  brave  men  have  sought  her  hand."  But  the 
brother,  well  pleased,  conveyed  the  message,  and  even  urged  his  dar- 
ling Guta  to  accept  this  honor,  although  it  would  separate  them. 
But  she  was  immovable,  and  he  returned  to  Richard  with  a  refusal. 

God  be  praised  !  "  said  the  emperor.  "  Now  know,  my  dear  Falk- 
enstein, that  Guta  plighted  her  troth  to  me  after  the  tournament  at 
Cologne.  She  knew  not  my  name,  but  she  loved  me.  I  have  tested 
her  faith.  She  has  refused  a  king.  Bring  her  now  this  glove  and 
tell  her  a  knight  of  the  king's  train  sent  it  to  her.  Let  her  come  to 
me  that  I  may  fulfill  my  promise."  Falkenstein  did  so,  and  as  soon 
as  Guta  saw  the  glove  she  hastened  to  welcome  her  lover.  "  You 
are  still  faithful,  as  I  myself  am,"  said  Richard,  tenderly  embracing 
her.  A  sweet  smile  was  her  only  answer.  Should  I  deserve  to  be 
emperor  if  I  kept  not  my  promise  ?  "  Then  looking  •  at  her  brother 
she  exclaimed,  You  ?  Emperor  ?  "  "  Our  emperor  and  your  hus- 
band, my  sweet  sister,"  answered  Falkenstein,  while  tears  flowed 
from  his  eyes.  Then  were  they  married,  and  Richard  changed  the 
name  of  the  castle,  which  had  been  Caub  until  now,  and  called  it 
Gutenfels  in  honor  of  his  true  and  loving  wife. 

Cleve.  The  Swan  Knight.  The  young  Countess  of  Cleve  was 
in  great  distress  because  a  strong  and  daring  vassal  had  announced 
his  rebellion,  had  made  her  a  prisoner  in  her  own  castle,  and  would 
restore  her  to  freedom  only  on  condition  that  she  would  marry  liim. 
She  saw  no  way  of  escape,  for  no  other  knight  would  venture  to 
challenge  this  traitor,  so  strong  and  powerful  was  he.  And  she 
prayed  to  Heaven  to  send  her  release.  Now  on  her  chaplet  was  a 
silver  bell  which  had  a  surprising  power.  Its  sound  increased  by 
distance  in  one  especial  direction ;  and  this  sound  came  to  the  ears 
of  a  distant  king,  who  regarded  it  as  the  cry  of  some  one  up  the 
Rhine  who  was  in  deep  distress  and  greatly  needing  assistance.  He 
also  believed  it  to  be  an  occasion  for  his  only  son  to  make  his  name 
known  and  respected,  for  these  knights  of  olden  time  regarded  ex- 
ploits in  aid  of  the  defenseless,  especially  if  women,  as  worthy  of 
great  praise,  and  by  them  they  established  a  reputation  for  bravery 
and  prowess.  Then  a  swan  appeared  on  the  river  drawing  a  boat  by 
a  golden  chain.  It  placed  itself  on  the  bank  before  the  king's  son, 
as  if  demanding  to  be  used.  This  appeared  to  the  young  man  like 
a  signal  from  a  higher  power ;  he  entered  the  boat,  and  immediately 
the  swan  proceeded  up  the  Rhine  drawing  the  boat  after  it.  Now 


352 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


the  day  had  arrived  on  which  the  rebellious  vassal  of  the  young 
countess  had  determined  to  marry  her  in  spite  of  all  repugnance  on 
her  part.  She  knew  she  could  not  escape  this  hateful  union  unless 
she  could  find  a  knight  who  would  challenge  him  to  mortal  combat, 
and  of  this  she  had  no  hope.  While  she  was  sadly  reflecting  on  her 
sorrows,  and  preparing  to  array  herself  for  this  marriage,  she  saw  a 
boat  drawn  by  a  swan  in  which  was  a  sleeping  knight.  It  approached 
her  domains  on  the  river.  Instantly  she  called  to  mind  that  an  old 
nun  had  once  told  her  that  a  sleeping  youth  should  save  her  from 
some  imminent  danger.  Just  then  the  knight  sprang  to  the  shore, 
and  the  swan  and  the  boat  instantly  disappeared.  He  came  directly 
to  the  castle  and  kneeling  before  the  countess  begged  that  he  might 
be  allowed  to  combat  for  her  hand.  She  consented  joyfully,  and 
preparations  were  instantly  made  for  the  trial.  All  who  witnessed 
it  were  filled  with  fear  for  the  young  knight,  who  seemed  wholly 
unable  to  contend  with  his  proud  and  powerful  opponent ;  but  justice 
triumphed  and  the  rebellious  vassal  fell,  pierced  through  by  the 
sword  of  the  young  knight.  Then  the  countess  thanked  him  most 
earnestly,  and  so  great  was  her  gratitude  that  a  few  days  after  she 
willingly  conferred  her  hand  upon  him.  He  proved  a  fond  and 
faithful  husband,  and  there  was  but  one  thing  which  could  have 
added  to  the  happiness  of  the  countess.  She  much  desired  to  know 
who  her  husband  might  be,  and  of  his  former  life ;  most  of  all  what 
fate  or  fortune  had  brought  him  to  her  relief.  But  before  he  had 
promised  to  marry  her,  he  required  of  her  that  she  should  never 
question  him  of  these  things,  and  assured  her,  that  should  she  disre- 
gard his  wishes  he  should  leave  her  forever.  Time  passed  on,  and 
their  happiness  was  increased  by  the  birth  of  three  sons  who  bade 
fair  to  be  an  ornament  to  chivalry  and  the  pride  of  their  family. 
But  now  the  countess  could  no  longer  repress  the  cravings  of  her 
mother's  heart.  She  felt  that  her  husband  was  of  noble  origin,  and 
she  begged  him  to  give  his  name  to  his  children.  She  urged  that 
the  lowest  of  parents  gave  that  at  least,  to  their  sons,  and  she  feared 
lest  her  noble  boys  should  be  regarded  and  mocked  as  bastards. 
Then  was  the  knight  sorrowful,  and  exclaimed,  "  Woe,  woe,  unhappy 
mother !  What  have  you  done  ?  By  these  words  you  have  destroyed 
our  happiness.  I  must  now  leave  you,  never  to  return  !  "  Then 
he  had  his  silver  horn  blown  on  the  waters,  and  at  daybreak  the 
swan  appeared  drawing  the  boat  as  before.  The  knight  entered,  and 
was  borne  forever  away  from  the  terrified  and  despairing  countess. 
She  soon  died  of  grief,  but  her  sons  lived  and  were  founders  of  noble 
families,  who  are  still  distinguished  by  the  swan  upon  their  arms. 

Cologne.  The  Building  of  the  Cathedral  About  the  middle 
of  the  thirteenth  century,  the  Archbishop  of  Cologne,  Conrad  of 
Hochsteden,  determined  to  build  a  magnificent  cathedral.  He  had 
large  sums  of  money  which  he  was  willing  to  spend  for  the  purposes 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


353 


of  religion,  and  he  was  sure  of  liberal  contributions.  So  as  there 
would  be  no  lack  of  means,  he  desired  that  it  should  be  more 
imposing  in  its  splendor  than  any  cathedral  in  the  world.  The 
first  difficulty  was  to  find  an  architect  who  could  conceive  and 
execute  a  plan  worthy  of  the  acceptance  of  the  archbishop.  Now 
there  was  in  Cologne  an  architect  of  great  reputation ;  for  him 
the  archbishop  sent  and  requested  him  to  make  such  a  plan  as  he 
desired,  and  to  have  it  ready  for  his  approval  in  one  year.  The 
architect  was  greatly  flattered  and  determined  to  devote  himself 
most  heartily,  to  this  work,  which  if  successful  would  make  his  name 
known  throughout  all  time.  He  thought  of  nothing  else,  and  renounced 
all  other  employment.  How  it  should  be  arranged,  how  vaulted, 
what  columns,  and  where  to  be  placed,  and  a  thousand  other  things, 
were  revolved  in  his  mind  again  and  again,  and  plan  after  plan  put 
upon  parchment.  But  nothing  pleased  him.  He  had  in  his  mind  a 
more  noble  conception  than  any  he  could  commit  to  paper,  and 
although  a  vision  of  splendor  and  sublimity  in  style  and  ornament 
floated  always  before  his  eyes,  it  never  could  be  made  to  appear 
where  he  could  show  it  to  others.  Thus  ten  months  had  passed 
and  nothing  was  done.  The  poor  man  began  to  be  almost  insane. 
He  knew  at  the  appointed  time  not  only  the  archbishop  but  all 
his  fellow-citizens  would  look  for  his  promised  plan,  and  he  feared 
greatly  the  ridicule  which  failure  would  bring  upon  him.  At 
length  he  had  but  three  days  remaining.  He  wandered  far 
away  among  the  Siebengebirge.  There  night  overtook  him,  and  a 
fearful  tempest.  The  darkness  was  such  as  could  almost  be  felt, 
and  the  lightning  when  it  came,  gave  an  unearthly  appearance  to  all 
around  him.  The  trees  seemed  like  giants  with  their  arms  stretched 
out  to  seize  him,  and  contending  with  each  other  concerning  him. 
But  he  was  too  engrossed  in  his  thoughts  for  fear  to  find  any  room 
in  his  overtasked  nature.  He  remembered  but  one  thing,  and  that 
the  nearness  of  the  day  when  he  should  be  disgraced  in  his  profes- 
sion. He  cursed  himself  and  his  destiny,  and  raved  like  one  mad. 
Just  then  a  flash  of  lightning  set  on  fire  a  large  oak,  and  the  thunder 
which  followed  seemed  to  rock  the  very  earth.  Then  from  the 
flame  of  the  tree  stepped  forth  a  figure  which  advanced  toward  the 
architect.  At  another  time  he  would  have  been  startled  by  this 
frightful  scene,  but  now  his  mental  agony  had  blunted  all  feeling, 
and  he  received  his  new  companion  as  he  would  have  done  any  ac- 
quaintance. He  wore  a  fire-red  mantle,  and  a  broad-brimmed  hat 
with  a  long  plume.  His  face  was  like  what  one  would  expect  on  a 
poacher  or  highwayman.  "A  fearful  storm,  Dom-architect,"  said 
he.  "  How  could  you  wander  out  in  such  a  night  ?  If  you  will  fol- 
low me  I  will  show  you  a  short  way  to  a  place  of  safety."  The  ar- 
chitect felt  the  bitter  mocking  of  this  speech.  There  was  that  in 
the  tone  with  which  he  said  "  Dom-architect,"  which  cut  him  to  the 
23 


354 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


heart,  and  he  turned  and  walked  away  without  a  word.  But  noth- 
ing daunted,  the  stranger  seated  himself  as  for  a  conversation,  and 
drawing  a  bottle  from  his  pocket,  said,  Drink,  master,  to  our 
better  acquaintance,  and  if  you  have  a  sorrow  or  should  be  reflect- 
ing on  anything,  this  beverage  will  do  you  good."  "  My  grief,"  an- 
swered the  builder,"  is  not  removed  by  any  beverage,  neither  can  it 
give  me  insight  into  that  which  I  vainly  endeavor  to  discover." 
"  You  are  an  unsocial  fellow,"  answered  the  stranger,  "  but  that  does 
not  frighten  me,  nor  prevent  my  offering  to  assist  you,  as  I  have 
done  others.  Still  again,  drink,  and  forget  your  sorrow."  Then  he 
held  the  bottle  close  to  the  face  of  the  architect,  who  to  be  rid  of 
his  importunity,  tasted  the  preparation.  No  sooner  had  he  done  so 
than  it  seemed  to  flow  through  all  his  veins.  He  felt  a  new  confi- 
dence and  an  unknown  strength,  and  he  exclaimed  as  he  sat  down 
by  the  stranger,  A  genuine  nectar !  An  incomparable  cordial ! " 
"  Ah !  my  beverage  is  good,  let  that  convince  you  that  I  have 
other  good  qualities.  I  know  that  you  reflect  on  a  plan  for  a  splen- 
did cathedral ;  you  cannot  succeed  unless  I  assist  you."  The  archi- 
tect gazed  at  him  with  astonishment.  "  I  see  you  have  no  confi- 
dence in  me,  but  I  am  the  only  one  who  can  and  will  help  you.  Take 
another  draught,  and  you  will  see  that  it  is  the  best  you  can  do. 
My  conditions,  too,  are  easy,  and  I  keep  my  word  as  faithfully  as 
men  do  their  oaths."  The  master  had  tasted  the  contents  of  the 
bottle  again,  and  asked  how  all  this  could  be  done  in  three  days. 
Upon  this  the  stranger  laughed  and  pulled  from  his  pocket  a  parch- 
ment, which  he  unrolled  before  the  eyes  of  the  builder.  It  was  -the 
very  thing  he  had  so  long  attempted  in  vain  to  draw.  "  Yes,  that 
is  it !  "  exclaimed  he,  "  that  is  the  beautiful  thought  that  always  es- 
caped me  just  when  I  believed  to  have  it  fixed."  "  Well,"  said  the 
other,  "  here  it  is,  —  the  plan  is  perfect  in  every  part,  you  can  have 
it  on  one  condition  :  sign  this  contract  and  all  is  done.  Sign  it 
with  a  little  of  your  blood.  I  have  many  such,  and  it  is  my  hobby 
to  increase  the  number."  The  builder  was  overcome  with  horror. 
He  had  read  to  whom  he  should  give  himself ;  but  the  desire  for  re- 
nown overcame  all,  and  he  signed.  Instantly  the  fiend  disappeared 
and  he  was  left  with  the  dearly  bought  plan.  He  returned  home. 
His  plan  was  viewed  by  the  archbishop  with  delight,  and  he  was 
courted  and  admired  by  all.  As  the  building  of  the  cathedral  went 
on,  fetes  were  made  in  his  honor,  and  great  attentions  lavished  on 
him ;  but  he  was  the  victim  of  an  uncontrollable  sadness  in  the 
midst  of  all.  The  bishop  ordered  a  plate  engraved  with  his  name 
to  be  inserted  in  the  wall  of  the  dome,  but  nothing  aroused  him  to 
cheerfulness.  He  only  reflected  on  hell  and  eternal  torments,  and 
saw  the  quick  completion  of  the  church  with  anxious  terror.  At 
length  he  could  endure  his  agony  no  longer,  and  told  all  to  his  con- 
fessor.   This  good  man  promised  to  do  everything  in  his  power 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


355 


by  prayers  and  atoning  services,  but  advised  the  master  to  seek  a 
hermit  who  dwelt  in  the  Eifel  mountains  and  had  power  to  exorcise 
evil  spirits.  This  he  did,  and  the  hermit  assured  him  that  by  pray- 
ers and  penances  his  sin  could  be  removed.  He  remained  with  the 
hermit  for  weeks,  and  performed  a  great  number  of  penances.  At 
length  he  returned  to  his  home  and  continued  his  penitential  life. 
He  was  not  allowed  to  finish  his  work,  for  disputes  arose  among  the 
electors  and  all  went  wrong,  and  at  length  full  of  grief  and  shame 
the  master  died.  On  the  same  night  the  tablet  which  bore  his 
name  disappeared,  and  soon  the  disputes  became  so  important  that 
the  work  on  the  cathedral  ceased  altogether.  The  Devil  sowed 
seeds  of  discord,  determined  that  as  he  had  been  cheated  of  his 
booty  the  work  should  not  be  done ;  and  it  is  only  in  later  years  that 
it  has  been  possible  to  undertake  its  completion.  This  is  one  ver- 
sion of  the  legend.  Another  relates  that  the  architect  agreed  to 
give  the  Devil*  not  only  his  own  soul,  but  that  the  first  who  en- 
tered the  cathedral  after  its  completion,  should  also  be  his ;  and 
that  this  compact  becoming  known  he  was  the  horror  of  all  the 
city,  and  deserted  and  wretched,  awaited  the  time  when  his  bar- 
gain must  be  fulfilled.  When  at  length  it  came  there  was  in 
Cologne  a  woman  of  bad  reputation,  who  had  been  sentenced  to 
punishment,  which  she  awaited  in  the  archbishop's  prison.  Wlien 
she  heard  of  the  perplexity  of  the  citizens,  and  that  no  one  dared 
be  the  first  to  enter  the  cathedral,  she  offered  to  be  the  one,  if  by  so 
doing  she  could  gain  her  freedom.  This  was  assented  to,  and  on 
the  day  appointed,  large  crowds  were  assembled  to  witness  the 
strange  spectacle.  Six  men  came  from  the  palace  with  a  large  box, 
which  they  placed  before  the  door  of  the  cathedral,  which  being 
opened,  a  woman  apparently  crawled  out  on  her  hands  and  knees, 
and  passed  through  the  door.  She  was  seized  by  Satan,  and  her 
neck  broken  with  a  horrible  yell ;  —  he  then  fled.  No  sooner  had  he 
gone,  than  a  woman  stepped  out  of  the  box,  and  entering  the 
church,  kneeled  down  to  pray.  The  archbishop  saw  that  the  evil 
one  had  been  exorcised,  and  entered  with  the  people  in  the  midst 
of  alleluias  and  rejoicings.  The  servants  removed  from  the  cathedral 
the  carcass  of  a  pig,  with  which  the  woman  had  cheated  Satan. 
But  the  poor  architect  was  found  sitting  in  his  library,  horribly  dis- 
figured, his  neck  broken,  and  the  fatal  plan  spread  out  before  him, 
while  his  prayer-book  was  thrown  in  a  corner.  He  was  buried  pri- 
vately. The  wicked  woman  was  so  overcome  by  the  sight  of  the 
Devil,  that  she  became  converted  and  entered  a  convent. 

The  Burgomaster  Gryn,  the  Lion-slayer.  When  Engelbert  H. 
was  Archbishop  of  Cologne,  there  were  very  serious  disputes  be- 
tween himself  and  the  people  of  the  town.  He  was  determined  to 
subject  them  to  his  will,  and  they  equally  so  to  rule  themselves. 
He  built  the  Bayenthurm  to  assist  him  in  his  designs,  but  the  citizens 


356 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


stormed  and  took  it  very  shortly  after  it  was  finished.  Among  his 
persistent  opposers  the  bishop  found  the  family  of  Overstolz  and 
Herman  Gryn,  and  his  hatred  of  the  latter  was  such  that  he  deter- 
mined on  his  destruction.  Two  of  his  canons  were  set  to  entrap 
Gryn  by  a  pretended  friendship.  This  they  succeeded  in  doing ; 
and  at  last  invited  him  to  a  banquet  to  be  held  in  the  dome- 
cloister.  When  he  arrived,  the  other  guests  whom  they  feigned  to 
expect  had  not  appeared,  and  they  proposed  that  he  should  visit  the 
curiosities  of  the  place.  Accompanied  by  the  canons,  he  had  ex- 
amined several  apartments,  when  as  he  entered  another  the  door 
was  suddenly  closed  behind  him  and  he  found  himself  a  prisoner. 
He  had  scarcely  time  to  realize  this  when  he  perceived  a  lion  in  a 
corner  of  the  room.  He  had  but  a  moment,  in  which  he  drew  his 
sword,  and  wrapped  his  cloak  about  his  left  arm.  The  lion  had  not 
been  fed  for  several  days,  and  immediately  sprang  toward  him  with 
flaming  eyes.  With  wonderful  presence  of  mind,  Gryn  ran  his  left 
arm  down  the  throat  of  the  monster  while  with  the  right  hand  he 
plunged  his  sword  into  his  breast,  and  he  fell  dead.  Meanwhile  the 
canons,  who  could  not  doubt  the  success  of  their  plans,  called  loudly 
for  help,  saying  that  the  lion  of  the  archbishop  had  attacked  Gryn. 
What  was  their  surprise,  when  after  a  crowd  had  collected  they  en- 
tered the  room  and  found  the  lion  dead  and  Gryn  still  alive  ?  Their 
treachery  being  exposed,  they  attempted  to  flee,  but  were  seized  by 
the  people  and  hung  near  a  door  of  the  cathedral,  which  since  that 
day  has  been  called  the  priests'  door."  The  heroic  action  of  Gryn 
is  commemorated  in  a  bas-relief,  still  to  be  seen  on  the  portal  of  the 
town  hall. 

The  Legend  of  Herman  Joseph,  who  was  a  native  of  Cologne,  will 
be  found  in  the  preceding  portion  of  this  book. 

The  Wife,  Richmodis  von  Adocht.  When  the  plague  visited 
Cologne  in  1357,  Richmodis  von  Lyskirchen,  wife  of  the  Knight 
Mengis  von  Adocht  was  attacked  by  it.  She  fell  into  a  deathlike 
swoon,  and  was  thus  buried  in  the  Apostles'  Church.  A  beautiful 
ring  had  been  left  on  her  finger  and  had  not  escaped  the  notice  of 
the  grave-digger,  who  came  at  night  to  possess  himself  of  it.  She 
was  awakened  by  this,  and  arose  and  went  home.  When  she  ar- 
rived there  all  in  the  house  were  asleep,  but  a  servant,  aroused  by 
her  knocking,  asked  i'rom  a  window  who  thus  disturbed  his  repose. 
The  lady  replied,  and  the  servant  much  frightened  told  his  master 
who  had  come.  Adocht  replied  that  it  was  impossible,  and  added 
that  he  would  as  soon  believe  that  his  gray  horses  would  leave  their 
stable  and  come  up-stairs  to  him.  No  sooner  were  these  words 
spoken  than  the  horses  started  and  were  about  to  mount  to  the  gar- 
ret. Then  Adocht  hastened  to  welcome  his  returning  wife.  By 
careful  nursing  she  was  restored,  and  lived  to  present  her  husband 
with  three  sons.    She  was  evermore  thoughtful  and  serious  in  her 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


357 


manner.  A  modern  house  now  stands  on  the  spot  where  that  of 
Adocht  stood,  but  the  heads  of  two  horses  made  in  wood  are  still 
seen  affixed  to  an  upper  window  in  commemoration  of  this  remark- 
able event. 

Legend  of  St.  Ursula.    See  preceding  portion  of  this  book. 

The  three  Kings  of  Cologne.  See  the  Madonna,  "  Adoration  of 
the  Magi,"  preceding  portion  of  this  book. 

Darmstadt.  Walter  of  Birhach.  This  young  knight  distin- 
guished himself  above  all  others  of  his  time  by  his  great  piety. 
He  was  especially  devoted  to  the  service  of  the  Blessed  Virgin.  On 
one  occasion  he  rode  to  Darmstadt  to  strive  for  the  honors  of  a 
tournament.  His  lady-love  was  to  be  present,  and  he  was  ex- 
tremely anxious  to  win,  but  he  knew  that  many  knights  more 
skillful  than  he  would  endeavor  to  excel  him.  As  he  rode  on  thus 
thinking  of  his  wishes  and  chances  of  success,  he  came  to  an  altar 
upon  which  was  a  statue  of  the  Virgin.  He  immediately  dis- 
mounted and  performed  his  devotions,  and  entreated  the  aid  of  Our 
Lady  in  the  accomplishment  of  his  desires.  In  the  fervency  of  his 
prayers,  he  lost  his  senses,  —  a  convulsion  seized  him,  and  he  be- 
came insensible  at  the  foot  of  the  altar.  Then  the  Virgin  descended, 
clothed  herself  in  his  armor,  and  rode  to  the  lists,  where  she  con- 
quered all  the  knights  who  contended.  She  then  returned  to  Wal- 
ter, replaced  his  armor,  and  resumed  her  place  on  the  altar.  Soon 
the  pious  knight  awoke,  and  bowing  once  again  to  the  Virgin,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  tourney.  As  he  approached  the  town,  all  whom  he 
met  congratulated  him  as  the  victor  of  the  day,  and  lavished  praises 
upon  him.  At  first  he  was  amazed,  but  soon  as  by  an  inspiration, 
he  understood  who  had  fought  for  him.  In  consequence  of  this  suc- 
cess he  married  his  lady-love,  and  in  gratitude  to  Mary  he  erected 
on  the  spot  where  the  altar  stood,  a  commodious  and  elegant  chapel, 
and  remained  devoted  to  her  service  to  the  end  of  his  life. 

Drachenfels.  The  castled  crag  of  Drachenfels,"  commands 
one  of  the  finest  views  on  the  Rhine.  The  Siebengebirge,  the 
basaltic  rocks  near  Honnef,  the  villages  of  Unkel,  Erpel,  Rhondorf, 
Rheinbreitbach,  Remagen,  and  the  Church  on  the  Apollinarisberg, 
the  ruins  of  Olbruck  and  Tomberg,  and  the  volcanic  Eifel,  the  isl- 
ands of  Nonneworth  and  Grafenwerth,  the  ruin  of  Rolandseck  and 
the  farm-house  of  Roderberg,  and  still  further  away  Kreuzberg, 
Bonn,  and  a  shadowy  view  of  Cologne,  —  make  up  a  picture  such  as 
is  seldom  seen.  Drachenfels,  or  Dragon's  Rock,  is  also  famous  for 
having  been  the  home  of  a  huge  dragon,  who  in  his  day  did  much 
mischief  in  all  the  surrounding  country.  In  the  midst  of  his  ravages 
a  war  broke  out  between  the  heathen  and  Christian  tribes.  The 
heathen  were  victorious,  and  brought  to  their  homes  much  booty  and 
many  prisoners,  among  whom  was  a  lovely  maiden.  All  wished  to 
possess  her,  but  especially  Ottfried.    In  order  that  this  difficulty 


358 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


might  be  settled  they  determined  to  consult  the  priestess  of  night. 
She  declared  that  as  the  maiden  was  so  beautiful  as  to  create  enmi- 
ties and  hatred,  none  should  have  her,  but  she  should  be  thrown  to 
the  dragon.  All  were  filled  with  horror ;  but  the  command  must  be 
obeyed.  Ottfried  was  in  despair  when  the  maid  was  led  forth  to 
the  dragon's  cave  ;  but  she  advanced  with  firm  and  resolute  step,  as 
if  fearing  nothing.  The  dragon  came  out  and  rushed  toward  her, 
but  suddenly  fell  to  the  ground,  and  Ottfried  who  had  kept  near 
her  plunged  his  sword  into  the  monster  and  killed  him.  All  shouted 
for  joy,  and  congratulated  Ottfried  that  he  had  destroyed  the  mon- 
ster and  rescued  the  maid.  Afterward  Ottfried  desired  to  know 
why  she  had  been  so  fearless,  and  how  she,  a  delicate  maiden,  had 
dared  more  than  strong  men  could  do.  Then  she  showed  him  a 
cross  which  she  wore  in  her  bosom,  and  told  him  that  it  always  gave 
her  strength  and  courage ;  and  that  any  one  who  believed  in  Jesus 
who  had  died  on  the  cross,  had  no  fear  of  death  or  the  grave. 
When  she  had  explained  all  to  Ottfried  he  was  converted  and  bap- 
tized, and  at  length  was  married  to  the  maiden,  and  built  for  her  the 
Castle  of  Drachenfels.  It  is  also  said  that  he  bathed  in  the  dragon's 
blood  and  thus  became  invulnerable.  He  was  a  good  ruler,  and 
made  not  only  his  wife  but  his  people  happy.  The  stone  for  the 
Cathedral  of  Cologne  was  taken  from  Drachenfels,  and  the  quarry  is 
called  Dombruck.  The  wine  of  the  vineyard  is  Drachenblut,  — 
Dragon's  blood. 

Diinwald  near  Miihlheim.  "  The  Oak  Seed:'  The  monks  of 
Diinvvald  were  very  rich  and  not  less  avaricious.  They  desired 
much  wealth  in  order  that  they  might  be  able  to  gratify  their  desire 
for  luxurious  living.  They  were  determined  to  annex  to  their  pos- 
sessions one  hundred  acres  which  belonged  to  the  young  nobleman 
of  Schlebusch.  They  made  many  claims  out  of  their  old  parch- 
ments, and  thought  to  prove  that  they  had  a  right  to  it.  But  the 
young  man  knew  it  had  been  the  estate  of  his  family  for  many  long 
years  and  he  would  not  resign  it.  Then  it  was  referred  to  the 
judges,  but  they  fearful  of  the  Church  dared  not  give  a  decision,  and 
so  the  young  man  saw  no  hopes  of  a  settlement.  He  then  proposed 
to  the  monks  that  if  they  would  agree  that  he  might  sow  one  more 
crop  and  harvest  it  when  ripe,  he  would  then  relinquish  the  land. 
To  this  they  joyfully  agreed,  and  a  contract  legally  written  and 
worded  with  great  exactness  was  signed  by  the  monks  and  the 
nobleman.  Then  he  sowed  his  seed.  The  monks  watched  with 
great  interest  to  see  what  kind  of  grain  he  preferred  for  his  last 
crop  upon  the  land  ;  but  when  it  appeared  it  was  neither  wheat, 
rye,  or  any  grain  —  the  ground  was  covered  with  tender  green  leaves. 
What  was  their  consternation  when  they  found  that  they  were  those 
of  young  oaks  !  There  was  nothing  to  be  done ;  they  were  fairly 
outwitted,  and  before  the  trees  reached  the  top  of  the  cloister  the 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


359 


monks  were  all  dead,  and  before  the  oaks  decayed  the  cloister  itself 
had  crumbled  into  dust. 

Eberstein.    See  Baden-Baden. 

Eginhard  and  Emma.    See  Ingelheim. 

Ehrenfels.  In  this  castle,  at  the  window  of  her  chamber,  sat 
the  maiden  Uta.  She  wept  bitterly,  for  her  father  had  called  the 
knight  of  Castle  Beichenstein,  whom  she  tenderly  loved,  a  robber, 
and  declared  that  he  had  been  outlawed  by  the  emperor.  As  she 
gazed  toward  the  home  of  her  lover,  and  watched  the  waves  of  the 
Bhine  dancing  in  the  moonlight,  suddenly  the  flames  leaped  from 
the  castle,  and  in  the  fire-lio-ht,  dark  fio-ures  could  be  seen  fio^htino- 
desperately.  "  Holy  Mother,  protect  him  !  "  she  ejaculated.  "  O, 
my  God  !  it  is  not  possible.  He  a  robber,  and  his  castle  burning  !  " 
But  it  was  all  too  true.  The  emperor  had  sentenced  him,  and 
Reichenstein  was  destroyed.  Just  then  she  saw  a  small  boat  cross 
the  river,  and  she  heard  the  knight  say,  "  Uta,  Uta,  0  come  to  me 
once  more,  ere  I  leave  you  forever."  She  hastened  to  throw  herself 
in  his  arms.  "  I  am  an  outlaw  and  fugitive,  my  Uta.  I  was  only 
able  to  save  a  few  jewels  to  keep  me  from  starving  in  the  distant 
lands  to  which  I  go.  My  life  too,  was  in  great  danger,  but  though 
all  others  curse  me,  you  will  still  love  me.  Farewell,  I  must  leave 
you  forever  !  "  She  sobbed  and  tenderly  clung  to  him,  saying,  "  0, 
my  beloved,  it  would  have  been  better  that  we  had  died  while  happy, 
than  to  suffer  this  fearful  separation."  "  Ah,  Uta  !  I  cannot  leave 
you,  I  cannot  live  without  you.  Fly  with  me,  my  darling  maiden." 
"  I  cannot  desert  my  father.  I  will  take  the  veil,  and  in  the  cloister 
give  all  my  thoughts  and  prayers  to  you."  "  Never !  "  exclaimed 
Beichenstein.  He  took  her  in  his  arms,  and  stepped  some  paces 
back,  then  with  a  leap  plunged  into  the  river.  No  sound  was  heard 
as  the  waves  closed  over  them,  and  the  waters  flowed  calmly  on,  as 
if  it  were  nothing  that  in  their  midst  two  breaking  hearts  had  ceased 
to  beat.    Next  day  the  lovers  were  found  locked  in  a  close  embrace. 

Eppstein  or  Eppenstein.  This  town  lies  in  the  Taunus,  at 
the  extremity  of  the  Lorsbacher  valley.  The  knights  of  Eppstein 
were  of  great  renown,  and  five  archbishoJ)s  and  electors  of  Mayence 
were  from  their  family  between  1059  and  1284.  The  castle  rises 
from  a  rock  above  the  town,  and  the  legend  of  its  foundation  is  as 
follows :  The  Knight  Eppo  was  one  day  lost  in  the  forest  while 
chasing  a  boar.  He  sounded  his  bugle  and  cried  for  help  in  vain. 
At  length  worried  and  discouraged  he  alighted  from  his  horse,  and 
reclined  beneath  the  trees.  Suddenly  he  heard  a  sweet  song,  sung 
with  much  taste  and  expression.  He  went  in  the  direction  from 
which  it  proceeded,  and  saw  a  maiden,  who,  with  eyes  raised  im- 
ploringly to  heaven,  was  singing  a  sacred  melody.  Eppo  stopped  to 
listen,  but  when  she  saw  him  she  begged  for  his  assistance  with 
many  tears.    She  told  him  that  a  giant  had  stolen  her,  and  brought 


360 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


her  here ;  that  he  was  now  in  a  deep  sleep,  but  she  was  chained 
to  a  rock.  The  knight  asked  her  how  he  could  assist  her.  "  Return 
to  my  castle  :  bring  me  a  consecrated  net  which  I  have  there ;  in  it 
I  will  entrap  the  giant  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  when 
I  utter  that  sacred  name,  he  will  not  have  power  to  move."  Eppo 
did  this,  and  awaited  at  the  grotto  a  favorable  time  to  use  the  net. 
When  the  giant  awoke*  he  went  out  of  the  grotto  to  cut  a  pipe. 
Then  the  maiden  ran  out  and  spread  a  bed  of  mosses  and  sweet 
herbs,  and  told  the  giant  to  lie  down  to  see  if  it  was  comfortable. 
As  soon  as  he  did  so,  she  threw  the  net  over  him  in  the  name  of  the 
Holy  Trinity.  His  horrible  howls  and  yells  of  rage  drove  her  away 
with  fright,  but  he  was  powerless  to  free  himself.  The  maiden 
desired  the  knight  to  fly  with  her  instantly,  but  he  demanded  that 
she  should  wait  a  little  while.  He  ran  to  the  giant  and  rolled  him  off* 
the  precipice,  where  he  was  dashed  in  pieces.  Then  the  knight 
married  the  maiden  whom  he  had  saved,  and  built  the  Castle  of 
Eppstein  for  her ;  and  there  the  giant's  bones  are  still  to  be  seen, 
and  this  of  course  makes  the  tale  quite  true,  if  any  proof  were 
needed. 

Falkenburg.  This  ruin,  called  also  Reichenstein,  stands  on  an 
eminence  above  the  village  of  Trechtingshausen.  The  castellan  of 
this  fortress  had  a  lovely  daughter  named  Liba.  When  he  died  he 
left  her  not  only  with  a  fine  education,  but  also  considerable  fortune. 
She  lived  in  retirement  with  her  mother,  but  nevertheless  had  many 
suitors  and  offers  of  marriage.  But  Liba  was  betrothed  to  a  young 
knight,  Guntram,  who  only  waited  to  be  invested  with  his  fief  in 
order  to  marry  her.  One  lovely  May  morning,  Liba  told  her 
mother  how  much  she  wished  that  Guntram  might  come  to  her  that 
day.  Scarcely  was  the  wish  uttered  when  he  rode  into  the  court- 
yard, and  Liba  rushed  down  to  welcome  him  with  smiles  and  kisses. 
They  spent  a  happy  day,  not  the  less  joyous  because  Guntram  was 
even  then  on  his  way  to  the  Pfalzgraf  to  obtain  his  estate ;  for  this 
seemed  to  bring  nearer  the  time  when  they  should  be  united  ;  and 
he  left  her  with  a  smiling  command  that  she  should  hasten  the  prep- 
aration of  the  bridal  dresst  Saying  this  he  kissed  away  her  tears, 
which  always  came  when  parting  from  him,  and  rode  hopefully  away. 
He  was  a  noble  fellow,  and  handsome  as  good,  and  Liba  gazed  after 
him  with  a  full  heart,  and  a  happy  mingling  of  love  and  pride.  He 
immediately  obtained  the  favor  of  the  count,  and  as  he  desired  an 
ambassador  for  Burgundy,  he  selected  Guntram  for  the  honor.  He 
could  not  refuse  this,  and  sent  a  messenger  to  Liba  to  announce  his 
appointment  and  excuse  his  prolonged  absence.  She  received  this 
news  with  heavy  heart ;  she  could  not  explain  her  sadness,  but  since 
her  last  parting  with  Guntram  she  had  been  depressed  and  gloomy. 
Meanwhile  he,  with  all  a  lover's  eagerness,  hastened  to  dispatch  his 
commission,  and  soon  finished  the  affairs  of  his  embassy.    He  was 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


361 


6n  his  return,  and  so  great  was  liis  impatience  that  he  hastened 
before  his  companions,  and  missed  his  path.  He  was  on  a  side  road, 
and  constantly  thought  he  should  meet  some  person  who  would 
direct  him  aright,  but  he  came  first  to  an  old,  half-decayed  castle. 
He  entered  the  court-yard,  and  threw  his  reins  to  a  boy  who  gazed 
at  him  with  strange  surprise.  Guntram  inquired  for  his  master,  and 
the  youth  pointed  to  an  old  tower,  moss-grown  and  falling  to  decay. 
The  knight  dismounting  experienced  a  strange  sensation,  and  felt  as 
if  he  were  in  fairy-land.  He  was  met  by  an  old  man  who  declared 
himself  to  be  the  steward  of  the  castle,  and  led  him  to  a  gloomy 
apartment  where  he  desired  him  to  await  the  entrance  of  his  master. 
The  knight  was  surprised  at  his  strange  and  solemn  reception,  and 
was  attracted  by  the  sight  of  a  veiled  picture  on  the  opposite 
wall.  He  drew  aside  the  drapery,  and  was  startled  by  the  face  of 
a  beautiful  girl  who  seemed  to  smile  on  him,  and  at  the  same 
moment  a  harp  sounded  through  the  room.  He  had  scarcely 
reseated  himself  when  the  old  steward  returned,  and  announced  the 
lord  of  the  castle.  The  old  man  advanced,  and  in  a.  proud,  grave 
tone  said,  "  We  seldom  entertain  a  stranger,  but  though  we  live  in 
retirement,  we  forget  not  the  customs  of  hospitality.  Be  assured 
that  you  are  welcome."  Guntram  was  chilled  and  thrilled  by  a 
strange  fear,  but  this  was  soon  dispelled  by  the  politeness  of  the  old 
man ;  and  a  few  glasses  of  excellent  wine  enabled  him  to  converse  in 
his  usual  agreeable  manner,  concerning  warfare,  chivalry,  and  various 
topics  of  political  interest.  At  length  he  referred  to  a  harp  which 
was  there,  thinking  by  this  means  to  learn  something  of  the  picture 
he  had  seen.  But  the  old  man  became  instantly  sad,  and  covered 
his  face  with  his  hands.  Immediately  he  excused  himself,  wishing 
Guntram  a  good-night,  and  refreshing  sleep.  The  old  servant 
retired  with  him,  but  soon  returned  to  the  young  man.  "  Sir 
Knight,"  said  he,  "  my  lord  begs  you  to  pardon  his  sudden  leave- 
taking,  but  you  touched  a  chord  which  makes  him  gloomy  and  sad.'* 
"  Some  strange  mystery  reigns  here,"  said  Guntram,  "  can  you  ex- 
plain it  to  me  ?  "  "  Why  not.  Sir  Knight.  Come  to  your  apartment, 
and  on  the  way  I  will  tell  you  what  you  desire  to  know."  They 
arose  and  proceeded  to  the  room  where  hung  the  veiled  portrait. 
^'  Stop  here,"  said  the  knight,  "  and  tell  me  first  .of  all,  why  this 
lovely  portrait  is  veiled."  "  Then  you  have  seen  her,"  said  the  old 
man ;  "  how  beautiful  she  is.  She  was  the  daughter  of  the  house, 
and  when  with  us  most  lovely  and  bewitching.  But  alas,  she  was 
a  coquette.  She  had  many  suitors,  and  she  treated  them  all  in  such 
a  way,  and  demanded  such  impossibilities  of  them  as  to  drive  them 
all  from  her.  All  save  one,  —  he  was  the  last  of  a  noble  race,  and 
the  only  support  and  hope  of  an  infirm,  old  mother  to  whom  he  was 
devoted.  But  his  love  for  the  maiden  was  so  true  as  to  endure 
where  others  failed.    At  length  as  a  last  task  she  demanded  of  him 


362 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


to  descend  to  the  family  vault,  and  bring  to  her  a  crown  of  gold 
which  would  be  found  upon  one  of  her  ancestors.  He  did  so,  and 
the  profanation  was  punished  by  death,  for  a  stone  from  the  roof  fell 
on  him,  and  he  was  found  dead  with  the  crown  in  his  hand.  His 
mother  survived  him  but  a  few  days,  and  died  cursing  the  foolish 
maiden.  From  that  time  she  drooped,  and  died  a  year  from  the  day 
on  which  her  lover  had  descended  to  the  tomb.  But  when  we  would 
have  buried  her,  the  body  had  disappeared,  and  her  coffin  was 
empty."  As  the  story  was  ended  they  reached  the  bedroom  of  the 
knight.  The  old  man  wished  him  "  Good-night,"  and  turned  to  go 
away,  but  at  the  threshold  he  said,  "  Sir  Guntram,  if  during  the 
night  any  strange  thing  should  occur,  say  but  a  paternoster,  and  go 
again  to  sleep."  When  Guntram  was  alone  he  found  himself 
strangely  excited  by  all  this,  and  filled  with  wonder  at  what  the 
warning  might  mean.  Nevertheless  in  his  weariness,  he  could  but 
sleep.  Suddenly  he  seemed  to  hear  a  rustle  as  of  a  lady's  dress 
from  the  adjoining  room,  and  then  a  harp,  accompanied  by  a  sweet, 
sad  song.  He  arose,  and  through  a  crevice  beheld  the  original  of 
the  picture,  who,  as  she  ended  her  song,  dropped  the  harp  on  the 
ground  with  a  cry  of  sharp  distress.  He  could  wait  no  longer ;  he 
opened  the  door  and  stood  before  her,  —  she  regarded  him  with 
tender  kindness,  and  when  he  knelt  and  would  have  kissed  her 
hand  she  embraced  him  passionately,  and  abandoned  herself  to  his 
caresses  with  a  sweet  rapture.    "  You  love  me,"  said  she  softly. 

More  than  my  life,"  replied  the  knight.  She  drew  from  her  hand 
a  ring,  and  put  it  on  his  own  ;  he  pressed  her  to  his  heart,  and  in- 
stantly he  heard  the  death-cry  of  an  owl,  and  in  his  arms  he  held  a 
corpse.  He  staggered  to  his  couch  where  he  fell  in  a  swoon.  In 
the  morning  when  he  awoke  all  seemed  a  dream,  but  for  the  ring. 
This  he  would  have  thrown  away,  but  he  could  not  remove  it  from 
his  hand.  He  was  almost  distracted,  and  resolved  to  fly  from  this 
hated  place.  The  old  lord  entered  to  inquire  for  his  health.  "  Where 
are  we  ?  What  room  is  this  ?  "  demanded  Guntram.  "  It  was  my 
daughter's,  and  the  only  inhabitable  one  in  the  castle."  "  Yes,  yes," 
said  the  knight,  ^'  and  I  have  seen  her ;  she  herself  gave  me  this 
ring."  ^'  Then  God  help  you  sir,"  exclaimed  the  old  servant,  "  in 
three  times  nine  days  you  will  be  a  corpse."  With  a  loud  cry  Gun- 
tram fell  to  the  floor  insensible.  When  he  revived,  though  fever 
was  in  his  heart  and  brain,  he  proceeded  on  his  way,  and  the  joy  of 
Liba  could  not  be  told  when  she  saw  him  once  more.  But  she 
soon  perceived  his  sadness,  although  she  questioned  him  not.  He 
pressed  her  to  hasten  their  wedding-day,  which  she  did  but  too 
gladly.  When  the  hour  arrived  he  had  persuaded  himself  that  all 
would  yet  be  well;  his  love  for  Liba  remained  unchanged,  and  he 
approached  the  altar  with  a  firm  step  ;  but  as  the  priest  joined  their 
hands  he  screamed,  tottered,  and  fell.    When  he  recovered  he  told 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


363 


Liba  all,  and  that  the  dead  girl  had  put  her  hand  in  his  as  he  stood 
at  the  altar ;  but  he  still  begged  her  to  become  his  wife  before  he 
died.  She  called  a  priest,  and  at  his  bedside  pronounced  the  holy 
vows.  A  few  moments  after  he  pressed  her  to  his  bosom  as  his  wife 
he  breathed  his  last.  Liba  soon  retired  to  a  convent,  where  she  did 
not  long  survive  him. 

Falkenstein.  This  ruined  castle  is  on  a  mountain,  remarkable 
even  on  the  Rhine  for  its  difficulty  of  ascent.  The  following  is  the 
legend  concerning  the  zigzag  path  which  leads  to  it :  A  rough 
old  knight  dwelt  here,  who,  as  is  the  custom  with  rough  old  knights, 
had  a  lovely  daughter.  He  drove  away  her  suitors  by  his  harsh 
manners,  for  in  spite  of  the  steepness  of  the  ascent  many  cheerfully 
climbed  to  the  castle  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  a  reward  in  the  hand 
of  the  daughter.  But  one  Kuno  von  Sayn  was  never  weary  of  com- 
ing, for  he  was  rewarded  by  the  maiden's  love  and  smiles.  One 
day  he  ascended  with  difficulty,  almost  overpowered  by  the  heat, 
but  determined  to  brave  the  stern  knight  and  demand  the  hand  of 
the  daughter  in  marriage.  He  did  so,  and  the  old  knight  replied, 
that  if  he  would  make  a  road  up  to  the  castle  by  which  a  carriage 
could  come  before  the  next  morning,  he  should  possess  the  daughter. 
The  knight  went  away  in  despair,  not  even  seeing  his  love  again. 
He  told  his  miners  of  the  strange  condition,  and  offered  immense 
rewards  if  it  could  be  done,  but  they  declared  it  impossible.  Then 
he  wandered  away  into  the  forest,  almost  frantic  with  love  and  dis- 
appointment. Suddenly  an  old  man  stood  before  him  and  offered 
to  assist  him.  Kuno  returned  home  to  await  the  result,  and  next 
morning  rode  his  horse  up  the  present  crooked  way.  The  old 
knight  was  quite  overcome,  and  his  roughness  all  dispelled.  He  re- 
lated how  all  night  a  dreadful  storm  had  raged  about  the  castle, 
and  continually  the  sound  of  hatchets  and  hammers  could  be  heard 
coming  nearer  and  nearer.  Much  alarmed  they  had  passed  the 
night  in  prayer,  and  only  slept  about  day-break.  The  horse  of 
Kuno  awoke  them,  and  he  joyfully  demanded  and  received  his 
bride.  Even  now  one  cannot  doubt  that  the  wood  sprites  made  the 
path,  so  difficult  would  it  be  for  any  others  to  construct  it.  See 
also  Taunus. 

Florsheim.  Many  years  ago  a  knight  of  Florsheim,  called 
Bodo,  was  left  a  widower  with  an  only  child,  named  Adeline.  She 
was  sought  in  marriage  by  many  men  of  rank  and  worth,  but  she 
loved  her  father  too  well  and  was  too  happy  in  her  home  to  leave 
it  except  for  one  she  dearly  loved,  and  such  a  person  she  had  never 
seen.  One  day  a  young  man  of  cultivated  manners  and  great  beauty 
came  to  the  castle  in  the  garb  of  a  shepherd,  and  wished  Knight 
Bodo  to  employ  him  as  superintendent  of  liis  flocks.  He  showed  so 
much  good  sense,  and  knowledge  of  agriculture  and  cattle-raising, 
that  Bodo  did  not  hesitate  to  engage  him.    Soon  he  began  to  see 


364 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


the  wisdom  of  his  decision,  for  never  before  had  he  been  so  pros- 
pered in  all  connected  with  his  herds  and  flocks.  But  one  thing 
disturbed  him.  Otto,  as  he  was  called,  refused  to  give  his  name  or 
tell  anything  concerning  himself,  saying  that  he  had  good  reasons 
for  not  wishing  to  speak  of  these  things.  He  was  sad  and  kept 
alone,  thinking  apparently  of  some  grief  Adeline  had  heard  much 
of  Otto  from  her  father,  but  had  never  seen  him,  until  they  met  one 
day  in  the  forest.  He  was  so  affected  with  her  appearance,  that  he 
stood  for  a  time  speechless.  Then  recollecting  himself  he  begged 
her  pardon  and  to  be  allowed  to  attend  her,  as  she  was  alone  in  the 
forest.  He  was  respectfully  attentive  to  her  words,  and  when  they 
neared  the  castle,  ventured  to  express  a  hope  that  they  might  meet 
again.  After  leaving  her.  Otto  retired  to  his  humble  apartment  and 
reflected  on  what  had  occurred.  The  resemblance  of  Adeline  to  a 
sister  he  had  lost,  aflected  him  deeply,  and  he  thought  that  if  he 
could  determine  again  to  enter  the  world  from  which  he  had 
so  early  retired,  if  there  existed  happiness  for  him,  Adeline 
could  lead  him  to  it.  The  maiden  too,  reflected  upon  the  inter- 
view ;  and  one  who  had  closely  watched  her  could  have  detected 
that  love  was  awakened  in  the  heart  so  long  unmoved.  From  this 
time  scarcely  a  day  passed  that  they  met  not,  exchanging  thought 
for  thought,  aye,  and  heart  for  heart.  At  length  Otto  told  her  of 
his  past  life.  He  was  the  son  of  a  most  noble  knight  of  Thuringia, 
who  died  while  he  and  his  only  sister  were  very  young.  His  mother 
married  again,  and  dying  herself  left  her  children  to  one  of  the 
most  cruel  of  step-fathers.  Otto  escaped  to  an  uncle,  and  was  edu- 
cated as  a  knight.  After  several  years  he  returned  to  find  his  sis- 
ter dead,  murdered  by  ill-treatment,  and  as  some  believed,  by  poison. 
Otto  demanded  the  restoration  of  his  property,  and  challenged  the 
wicked  wretch  to  answer  for  the  death  of  his  sister.  He  received 
an  insulting  reply,  and  in  a  rage  stabbed  him  whom  the  world  re- 
garded as  his  father.  He  then  fled,  and  now  even  his  uncle  turned 
against  him,  and  shared  his  property  with  another  relative.  One 
can  understand  how  this  story  moved  the  very  soul  of  Adeline,  how 
truly  she  loved  him  when  she  knew  all  his  sorrow,  and  how  she 
planned  different  methods  by  which  he  should  again  be  made  happy. 
And  she  had  decided  that  her  father  should  be  made  their  confidant, 
should  assist  Otto  to  recover  his  property,  and  make  them  happy  by 
consenting  to  their  union.  But  very  soon  the  pinions  of  this  de- 
lightful fancy  were  most  effectually  clipped,  for  a  high-born  and 
rich  knight,  Siegbert,  now  demanded  her  hand,  and  it  was  an  alH- 
ance  well  pleasing  to  Bodo.  He  commanded  Adeline  to  prepare  to 
receive  him  as  her  husband,  and  said  much  of  the  renown  and  fame 
which  he  had  gained  in  Palestine,  and  of  the  honor  which  had  come 
to  her,  in  that  she  could  be  the  bride  of  such  a  knight.  Adeline 
was  as  one  turned  to  stone  and  refused  to  see  Siegbert.  Then 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


365 


Bodo  grew  angry  and  harsh,  and  even  confined  her  to  her  apart- 
ments. When  Siegbert  came  he  was  greatly  disappointed  at  the 
coolness  with  which  Adeline  received  his  courtly  attentions  and  decla- 
rations of  burning  love,  for  he  found  her  even  more  attractive  than 
report  had  made  her.  Then  Bodo  confined  her  in  a  dark  room,  and 
threatened  to  send  her  to  a  convent  if  she  did  not  give  her  promise 
to  Siegbert  that  very  day.  He  went  on  to  prepare  for  a  magnifi- 
cent wedding.  Otto  meantime  was  in  agony ;  he  could  not  see  Ade- 
line ;  he  had  heard  of  the  visit  of  the  stranger,  and  feared  all  the 
dreadful  truth.  He  wandered  in  the  woods,  but  at  last  went  irre- 
sistibly toward  the  castle,  when  he  heard  of  the  approaching  mar- 
riage. Believing  Adeline  false,  he  went  to  a  deep  stream  and  threw 
himself  into  it.  Meanwhile  Adeline  had  told  her  love  to  her  father, 
and  had  been  more  strictly  guarded  on  account  of  it.  But  when 
all  was  ready  and  she  was  in  her  bridal  dress,  she  found  an  oppor- 
tunity of  escape.  As  she  rushed  through  the  forest  in  search  of 
Otto,  she  saw  the  shepherds  taking  some  one  from  the  water.  In- 
stantly the  truth  flashed  on  her  mind,  and  glancing  at  her  lover's 
face,  before  any  one  could  detain  her,  she  plunged  into  the  same 
stream  and  was  swallowed  by  the  friendly  waves.  A  few  days  later 
she  was  washed  ashore,  and  her  beauty  as  she  slept  the  death-sleep 
in  her  bridal  robes  was  such  as  none  had  seen  before.  The  wretched 
father  buried  her  in  the  arms  of  her  loved  Otto,  and  did  not,  long 
survive  his  repentance  and  sorrow. 

Frankfort.  The  foundation  of  the  city.  When  the  Emperor 
Charlemagne  contended  with  the  Saxons  the  fortune  of  war  was 
often  against  him.  On  one  occasion  he  was  forced  to  retire  be- 
fore them  along  the  banks  of  the  Main.  There  was  a  heavy  fog 
and  it  was  not  possible  to  discover  a  vessel,  neither  did  he  find  any 
place  where  his  army  could  make  a  passage.  At  length  a  doe 
sprang  from  the  thicket  in  great  alarm.  She  bore  a  young  one,  and 
plunging  into  the  stream  swam  over  as  if  to  escape  an  enemy. 
Charlemagne  followed  the  example  thus  ofiered  him,  and  delayed  not 
to  cross  at  the  same  place.  The  fog  concealed  the  army,  and  they 
escaped.  When  the  emperor  reached  the  shore  he  struck  his  spear 
into  the  earth  and  exclaimed,  "  Here  shall  a  city  arise,  to  be  called 
Frankenford ;  "  and  as  in  consequence  of  this  crossing  the  river,  he 
overthrew  the  Saxons,  he  here  built  the  town,  afterwards  the  scene 
of  the  imperial  coronations,  and  which  is  now  the  beautiful,  com- 
mercial city  of  Frankfort-on-the-Main. 

The  Knave  of  Bergen.  All  was  gayety  at  the  Rdmer.  There 
was  a  great  masked  ball  which  made  a  part  of  the  coronation  festival. 
The  rich  toilets  of  the  ladies  and  the  glistening  costumes  of  the 
princes  and  knights,  united  with  the  joyous  music,  made  up  a  scene 
of  brilliant,  exciting  merriment.  There  was  but  one  in  all  the  throng 
who  gave  an  idea  of  gloom  or  sadness.    His  armor,  all  black,  and 


366 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


the  manner  in  which  he  moved,  excited  general  attention  and  curios- 
ity. None  could  guess  his  personality,  for  his  visor  was  completely 
closed.  .Tall  and  graceful,  with  much  of  pride  and  modesty,  he  ad- 
vanced and  bent  his  knee  before  the  empress,  requesting  the  favor 
of  a  waltz  with  the  queen  of  the  festival ;  it  was  granted,  and  he 
danced  easily  and  gracefully  through  the  hall  with  the  sovereign, 
who  thought  she  had  never  seen  so  elegant  and  excellent  a  dancer. 
But  this  was  not  his  only  attraction,  for  he  well  knew  how  to  please 
in  conversation,  and  the  queen  was  most  impatient  to  know  with 
whom  she  waltzed,  and  graciously  accorded  him  even  the  fourth 
dance.  All  regarded  him  with  envy,  and  the  other  knights  suf- 
fered in  the  eyes  of  the  ladies  in  comparison  with  his  easy  elegance. 
Even  the  emperor  was  excited  with  curiosity  to  see  him  unmasked. 
At  last  the  moment  came,  and  all  were  breathless,  but  while  others 
removed  their  masks,  his  visor  remained  closed.  At  length  the 
queen  commanded  that  his  face  should  be  seen.  He  opened  the 
visor ;  not  one  of  all  the  lords  or  ladies  knew  the  handsome  man 
on  whom  they  gazed,  but  from  the  crowd  advanced  the  officials  who 
declared  that  he  was  the  executioner  of  Bergen  !  Then  was  the 
anger  of  all  great,  and  the  emperor  declared  that  he  who  had  thus 
insulted  the  empress  should  die.  The  culprit  threw  himself  at  the 
feet  of  the  emperor  and  said :  "  Indeed  I  have  greatly  sinned 
against  all  this  noble  company,  but  most  of  all  against  you  and  my 
queen.  But  no  punishment  can  take  away  this  insult.  Therefore, 
O  my  sovereign,  allow  me  to  suggest  a  way  in  which  the  disgrace 
may  be  removed,  and  as  if  never  received.  Raise  your  sword  and 
knight  me.  Then  will  I  throw  down  my  gauntlet  to  all  who  dare  to 
speak  with  disrespect  of  my  king  or  his  most  gracious  lady."  The 
king  hesitated,  overcome  by  surprise  and  amazement  at  this  bold 
proposition.  But  soon  he  said,  "  You  are  a  knave,  but  your  ad- 
vice is  good,  and  (raising  his  sword)  I  make  you  knight  even  while 
you  kneel  to  me  for  pardon.  Like  a  knave  you  have  acted,  and 
Knave  of  Bergen  shall  you  henceforth  be  called."  The  black  knight 
rose  gladly ;  three  cheers  were  given  for  the  emperor,  and  the 
queen  danced  still  once  again  with  the  Knave  of  Bergen. 

The  9  in  the  Vane.  At  the  end  of  Eschenheimer  Street  rises 
a  tower  with  five  points,  and  having  a  vane  on  its  gable,  in  which 
nine  holes  form  the  figure  9.  The  origin  of  this  singular  thing  was 
as  follows  :  Hans  Winkelsee  was  a  troublesome  poacher,  and  so  skill- 
ful a  shot  that  it  was  believed  the  Devil  gave  him  charmed  bullets. 
At  length  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  suffered  much  in  his  confine- 
ment, for  freedom  and  the  range  of  the  forest  were  necessary  to  his 
happiness.  When  the  time  came  that  he  was  to  be  hanged  he  ex- 
postulated, and  said  it  was  a  sin  to  kill  a  man  for  having  shot  the 
animals  which  were  made  for  his  use.  Then  one  of  the  judges  ac- 
cused him  of  being  leagued  with  the  Devil  and  using  charmed 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


367 


bullets  ;  whereto  lie  replied,  that  he  would  shoot  nine  shots  through 
the  vane,  and  with  them  form  a  figure,  and  this  he  would  do  with 
bullets  that  had  been  blessed.  He  was  assured  that  if  he  could  do 
this,  one  principal  cause  of  his  condemnation  would  be  removed. 
He  insisted  on  the  trial,  and  all  became  so  interested,  and  especially 
the  foresters,  that  they  declared  that  if  he  could  do  this  he  should 
go  free,  and  the  judges  assented.  On  the  day  of  the  trial  large 
crowds,  assembled  both  outside  and  inside  the  gates ;  the  foresters 
were  ranged  upon  the  rampart,  and  their  master  cast  the  bullets  on 
which  the  life  of  Hans  depended.  Now  a  monk  again  warned  Hans 
not  to  trifle  with  them,  and  if  the  Devil  had  been  his  assistant  he 
promised  him  that  he  would  now  fail  him.  But  Hans  declared  that 
God  and  St.  Hubert  would  help  him  and  all  would  be  well.  Then 
the  master-forester  loaded  the  gun  and  gave  it  to  him.  The  first 
shot  went  through  the  vane,  and  the  next,  and  so  on,  and  after  each 
one  the  people  cheered,  and  when  all  was  done,  and  the  figure  9  " 
was  seen  on  the  vane,  their  enthusiasm  knew  no  bounds.  Then  it 
was  that  Hans  fell  on  his  knees  in  hearty  thankfulness  to  God,  in 
which  the  people  joined  him.  The  mayor  offered  him  the  honor  of 
being  captain  of  the  shooting  corporation,  but  Hans  declared  that 
when  once  out  he  would  never  enter  Frankfort  again.  So  he  went 
forth  loaded  with  presents,  and  lived  an  honest  life  ever  after,  but  it 
was  always  outside  the  walls  of  the  city. 

Frederick  and  Gela.    See  Gelnhausen. 

Fremersberg.    See  Baden-Baden. 

Gelnhausen.  Frederick  and  Gela.  The  ruined  fortress  of 
Gelnhausen  was  in  the  twelfth  century  a  majestic  and  imposing 
structure,  and  here  dwelt  Frederick,  a  descendant  of  the  Emperor 
Barbarossa,  and  later  in  life  himself  an  emperor.  The  old  castellan 
had  two  charming  daughters,  and  one  of  them,  Gela,  was  beloved 
by  the  young  prince.  One  day  he  could  restrain  his  speech  no 
longer,  and  abruptly  declaring  his  love  to  her,  he  as  abruptly  left 
her.  For  several  days  they  did  not  meet,  and  Frederick  was  agoniz- 
ing between  hope  and  fear.  At  length  they  met  in  the  fields,  where 
Gela  had  gone  to  gather  flowers.  At  first  she  turned  away  as  if  to 
avoid  him,  but  seeing  his  look  of  sorrow,  she  frankly  gave  him  her 
hand  saying,  "  Frederick,  I  love  you,  and  will  wait  for  you  this  even- 
ing in  the  church."  Frederick  was  there  before  her ;  and  when  she 
came  they  softly  whispered  their  love  with  all  its  hopes  and  fears, 
for  Gela  well  knew  the  wide  distance  which  separated  her  station 
from  that  of  her  lover.  Here  they  met  every  evening  for  months ; 
together  they  paid  their  devotions  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  each 
sought  her  blessing  for  the  other.  But  soon  the  noise  of  war  and 
the  preaching  of  the  Crusade  broke  in  upon  their  dream,  and  when 
Frederick  wished  to  assume  the  cross  and  go  to  the  Holy  Land,  Gela 
was  brave  enough  to  encourage  him  to  do  so.    He  returned  covered 


868 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


with  honors  and  anxious  to  lay  them  at  the  feet  of  Gela,  for  he  felt 
that  to  her  influence  and  prayers  he  owed  much  of  the  success  which 
had  attended  him.  But  instead  of  seeing  Gela,  he  received  a  letter 
which  the  noble  girl  had  written,  saying,  that  now  he  was  a  duke  he 
must  marry  a  princess,  suitable  to  his  rank  and  place  in  life ;  and 
adding  that  she  had  retired  to  a  convent,  where  her  love  for  him 
should  ever  remain  pure  and  unviolated.  When  Frederick  became 
emperor  he  did  not  forget  his  noble  Gela.  Her  letter  he  wore 
always  on  his  heart,  during  all  his  life ;  and  in  remembrance  of  her 
he  built  the  town  of  Gelahausen  or  Gelnhausen. 

Gernsbach.  The  KUngelkapelle,  In  the  early  days  of  Chris- 
tianity in  Germany,  a  hermit  established  himself  in  a  deserted 
cell  near  Gernsbach,  on  the  road  to  Castle  Eberstein.  He  performed 
the  duties  of  a  missionary  preacher  in  that  part  of  the  country. 
One  stormy  night  he  heard  a  supplicating  voice  outside  his  cell. 
When  he  opened  the  door  he  saw  a  beautiful  young  female,  scantily 
clothed  and  apparently  suffering  from  her  exposure  to  cold  and 
storm.  She  begged  that  she  might  enter  and  warm  herself  The 
hermit  willingly  permitted  this,  and  gave  her  wine  and  honey. 
When  he  had  made  her  as  comfortable  as  his  poverty  would  allow,  he 
asked  the  cause  of  her  wanderino-  alone  on  such  a  night.  She  then 
told  him  that  she  was  devoted  to  the  service  of  Hertha,  that  she  once 
lived  in  the  cell  where  they  then  were,  and  had  been  driven  from  it 
by  the  persecutions  of  the  Christians.  While  she  was  speaking  the 
monk  had  drawn  closer  to  the  maiden  and  was  more  and  more 
charmed  with  her  beauty,  but  when  she  announced  herself  as  a 
heathen,  he  started  in  horror.  "  You  are  shocked,"  she  cried,  "  to 
find  me  other  than  a  Christian.  But  am  I  not  a  human  being  like 
yourself?  Reflect !  this  cell  was  once  mine,  although  I  am  now 
obliged  to  beg  a  shelter  in.  it.  Is  it  any  less  comfortable  for  you 
that  I  have  lived  here  ?  Do  you  sleep  less  soundly,  or  does  the  sky 
look  less  bright  because  I  have  been  happy  here  ?  The  world  was 
made  for  all.  Why  do  you  persecute  me  ?  "  Then  he  told  her  of 
Jesus  and  how  much  he  would  rejoice  over  her  conversion,  which  he 
determined  to  accomplish  if  possible.  He  uttered  a  short  prayer, 
and  again  attempted  to  talk  to  her,  but  his  heart  was  not  in  what 
he  said,  for  the  beauty  of  the  maid  had  dazzled  all  his  senses.  She 
affected  to  listen  but  constantly  drew  nearer  to  him,  until  her  breath 
was  warm  upon  his  cheek,  and  his  blood  flowed  like  fire  in  his  veins. 
The  maiden  saw  her  power,  and  continued  to  caress  him  until  at  last 
with  apparent  innocence  she  asked  him  to  break  the  cross  before 
which  he  was  accustomed  to  perform  his  devotions.  He  was  about 
to  do  so,  and  had  stretched  out  his  hand  to  take  it  when  a  little  bell 
rang  outside  his  cell ;  this  sound  restored  him  to  his  senses,  and  in- 
stantly he  fell  on  his  knees  to  thank  God  for  his  goodness.  When 
he  raised  his  eyes  the  "  Saga  "  had  vanished.    Some  unseen  hand 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


369 


had  placed  the  bell  in  the  bushes  near  by.  He  carried  it  to  his  cell, 
and  from  that  time  it  was  called,    The  Klingelkapelle." 

Gerresheim,  near  Dusseldorf.  GunUlde.  This  beautiful 
nun  in  the  Convent  of  Gerresheim  had  become  the  object  of  the  pas- 
sionate love  of  her  confessor.  She  did  not  imagine  the  existence  of 
this  sentiment,  and  when  at  length  he  declared  it  to  her  she  was 
overwhelmed  with  surprise.  But  even  then  she  did  not  suspect  him 
of  any  impure  desires,  and  when  he  begged  her  to  fly  with  him  and 
promised  to  marry  her,  she  consented.  He  now  thought  her  com- 
pletely in  his  power,  but  Gunhilde  resisted  all  his  importunities  to 
sin,  and  demanded  the  fulfillment  of  his  promise.  This  he  did  not 
hasten  to  keep,  but  fell  into  all  sorts  of  evil  ways,  and  at  length 
joined  a  band  of  robbers.  During  an  excursion  he  was  seized,  and 
at  length  hanged  for  his  crimes.  The  news  of  his  dreadful  death 
was  a  fearful  blow  to  Gunhilde.  She  had  remained  virtuous  and 
had  preserved  her  chastity,  but  who  would  believe  this  ?  After 
some  time  spent  in  the  closest  retirement  she  went  to  her  cloister 
and  threw  herself  before  the  abbess  begging  to  be  again  received ; 
acknowledging  her  great  wickedness,  and  promising  amendment  in 
life  and  to  atone  for  her  sins  by  constant  penance.  The  abbess 
chided  her  for  thus  distressing  herself,  and  said  that  she  had  been 
more  holy  and  pleasing  to  God  than  she  herself  could  be.  Gunhilde 
was  led  bewildered  to  her  cell,  and  as  she  entered  it  she  saw  an 
angel  rise  from  her  bed  and  disappear.  She  then  knew  that  he  had 
been  sent  as  her  substitute,  and  had  performed  all  her  duties  while 
she  was  away,  and  thus  her  sin  was  known  only  to  God  and  herself. 

Gertruidenberg.  The  Holy  Gertrude,  Years  ago  there  lived 
in  the  Netherlands  a  holy  maiden  named  Gertrude.  A  knight 
of  rich  and  illustrious  family  was  deeply  in  love  with  her  from 
merely  seeing  her,  and  entirely  without  her  knowledge.  At  length 
he  declared  himself  to  her,  and  wooed  her  with  the  most  zealous 
attentions  and  unwavering  devotion.  But  Gertrude  had  already 
determined  to  be  the  bride  of  Christ,  and  was  about  to  make  her 
profession  as  a  nun.  Her  only  grief  was  her  poverty  ;  because  on 
account  of  it  she  was  not  able  to  gratify  her  desire  to  do  what  she 
wished  for  the  various  charities  in  which  her  heart  was  interested. 
This  she  expressed  to  her  lover,  and  he  resolved  that  since  his  heart 
must  be  buried  with  her  in  her  seclusion  he  would  supply  her  wants 
as  far  as  possible.  Often  he  had  seen  her  in  tears  and  sorrow  on 
account  of  her  inability  to  give  aught  but  consolation  and  hope  to 
the  poor  whom  she  visited.  She  was  but  eighteen  when,  in  spite  of 
her  lover's  entreaties,  she  took  the  veil,  and  daily  he  sent  her  a  sum 
to  be  expended  in  charity.  And  this  devotion  continued  for  years 
until  his  property  was  exhausted  —  his  estates  had  been  sacrificed, 
and  he  saw  with  sorrow  that  the  time  was  not  far  distant  when  he 
could  neither  give  his  accustomed  aid  or  receive  her  smile  and 
24 


370 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


grateful  thanks,  which  was  the  only  reward  his  faithful  heart  desired. 
When  he  carried  her  the  last  sum  that  he  possessed  he  bade  her 
farewell,  saying  that  he  was  going  on  a  journey,  but  in  fact  deter- 
mined to  make  money  in  some  way  in  order  to  supply  the  demands 
upon  the  charity  of  Gertrude.  But  so  unaccustomed  to  labor  was 
he,  and  so  unfitted  for  it,  that  he  knew  not  how  to  commence  his  new 
life.  He  wandered  for  days  in  the  forest  frantic  with  grief.  One 
night  about  twelve  o'clock  a  man  suddenly  stood  before  him.  He 
was  repulsive  in  his  appearance,  and  in  a  harsh  voice  demanded  of 
the  knight  what  he  desired,  at  the  same  time  assuring  him  that  if  it 
was  gold  he  could  supply  his  need,  as  he  had  done  that  of  many 
others.  He  promised  that  for  seven  years  there  should  be  an  inex- 
haustible store  in  his  chest  if  he  would  sign  his  contract  with  a  drop 
of  his  blood.  This  provided  that  at  the  end  of  seven  years  they 
should  again  meet  at  the  same  place  where  they  then  stood.  The 
knight  well  knew  to  whom  he  spoke,  but  so  great  was  his  need  that 
he  hastily  signed,  and  delayed  not  to  return  home  to  see  if  in  truth 
the  gold  would  be  supplied.  His  joy  was  great  to  find  a  good 
amount  in  his  chest,  and  from  day  to  day  he  lavished  large  sums 
upon  the  convent.  Thus  the  seven  years  passed,  and  the  time  had 
arrived  when  he  must  go  to  meet  the  author  of  so  much  wealth,  and 
alas,  of  how  much  agony  !  Who  could  tell  what  was  in  store  for 
him  ?  Again  he  bade  Gertrude  farewell,  under  pretense  of  a  jour- 
ney. She  begged  him  to  drink  a  cordial  under  the  protection  of 
her  patroness,  St.  Johanna,  and  assured  him  that  it  would  defend 
him  from  all  danger.  He  drank,  and  as  he  emptied  the  flagon  a 
life  and  strength  coursed  through  his  veins  such  as  he  had  never 
known  before.  He  bade  adieu  to  Gertrude,  and  hastened  to  the 
spot  where  he  was  to  meet  the  devil.  He  was  awaiting  him,  but  as 
soon  as  he  came  near  the  knight  he  sprang  away  with  a  fearful 
howl,  and  tore  the  contract  in  pieces,  scattering  it  to  the  winds. 
"  Woe  is  me  !  "  cried  Satan.  "  I  have  no  power  over  you,  for  riding 
behind  you  is  St.  Gertrude,  whose  happiness  you  last  drank."  Then 
the  devil  vanished,  leaving  behind  him  an  odor  of  brimstone  and  a 
thick  vapor.  The  knight  returned  to  his  home,  where  he  found  an 
immense  treasure  awaiting  him.  This  he  devoted  to  a  new  charity 
which  Gertrude  desired  to  undertake,  and  then  entered  a  cloister, 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

The  Hague.  Three  hundred  and  sixty-Jive  Children.  A  beggar- 
woman  came  once  to  Countess  Henneberg,  with  twins  in  her 
arms.  The  noble  lady  was  angry  at  the  interruption,  and  upbraided 
the  woman  for  want  of  virtue,  declaring  that  twins  could  not  be  the 
children  of  one  father.  The  beggar  cursed  her,  and  expressed  the 
wish  that  she  might  bear  as  many  children  as  there  are  days  in  the 
year.  Then  she  retired,  bitterly  weeping.  Nine  months  later  the 
countess  did,  indeed,  give  birth  to  three  hundred  and  sixty-five 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


371 


children  successively.  As  they  were  born  they  died,  and  she  her- 
self went  mad  and  did  not  long  survive  them.  The  graves  of  all 
are  shown  at  a  village  church  near  the  Hague,  as  well  as  the  font  in 
which  they  were  baptized  ! ! 

Hammerstein.  Count  Otto  and  Irmengard.  The  Castle  of  Ham- 
merstein  is  said  to  have  been  founded  by  Charles  Martel.  Early 
in  the  eleventh  century  it  was  occupied  by  Count  Otto,  who  had  a 
quarrel  with  Archbishop  Erkenbold  of  Mayence.  The  brave  count 
always  maintained  himself  in  battle,  and  the  bishop  determined  to 
ruin  him  in  some  other  way  than  that  of  open  warfare.  He  had 
married  Irmengard,  his  cousin,  without  a  dispensation  from  the  Pope. 
On  account  of  this,  Erkenbold  published  his  excommunication  from 
the  Church  and  declared  his  marriage  invalid.  Otto  did  not  allow 
this  to  disturb  his  happiness.  Next  the  bishop  applied  to  the  em- 
peror, Henry  H.,  to  interfere.  Henry  was  ever  ready  to  listen  to  the 
clergy.  He  therefore  laid  siege  to  the  Castle  of  Hammerstein.  It 
was  not  possible  to  reduce  it  except  by  famine.  This  proved  to  be 
a  long  and  tedious  undertaking,  and  after  a  time  the  emperor  gladly 
embraced  an  opportunity  to  settle  all  difficulties  by  a  compromise. 
Otto  made  a  sally  with  Irmengard  by  his  side.  They  were  both 
carried  back  to  the  castle  wounded.  Then  Henry  declared  to  the 
bishop,  that  as  both  had  shed  their  blood  in  defense  of  their  union, 
he  thought  it  right  that  they  should  be  pardoned,  and  even  married 
by  himself  To  this  the  bishop  at  length  consented,  and  this  second 
marriage  was  celebrated  with  great  pomp,  and  was  the  occasion  of 
a  hearty  and  enduring  reconciliation  between  the  Bishop  of  Mayence 
and  Count  Otto  of  Hammerstein. 

The  Wish  of  the  old  Castellan.  After  the  death  of  Otto  the 
emperor  gave  his  castle  to  the  archbishops  of  Cologne.  One  even- 
ing as  the  old  castellan  was  sitting  with  his  two  daughters,  listening 
to  their  merry  jokes  and  sweet  songs,  he  became  suddenly  thoughtful, 
and  when  they  rallied  him  and  asked  if  their  songs  did  not  please 
him,  he  answered  sighing,  "  Ah  yes,  my  darlings,  your  songs  are  sweet ; 
but  I  often  wish  you  wore  jackets  rather  than  petticoats,  and  could 
manage  a  sword  as  well  as  you  do  a  spinning-wheel.  If  I  but  had 
a  son  I  should  indeed  be  a  happy  father !  "  Then  they  answered 
him  with  merry,  repartee,  and  the  younger  one  told  how  she  would 
play  soldier,  and  danced  about  her  father  with  such  roguish  airs  as 
banished  all  his  seriousness.  In  the  midst  of  this  a  servant  an- 
nounced two  pilmms  who  beo-aed  rest  and  lod^ino-.  "  Brino-  them 
in,"  said  the  castellan,  "  none  shall  want  at  this  castle  while  I  have 
bread  and  wine."  So  they  came  in,  an  old  and  a  young  man.  The 
castellan  approached  them,  and  as  he  did  so  the  elder  pilgrim  threw 
back  his  hood.  The  castellan  fell  on  his  knees  and  exclaimed,  "  My 
lord,  and  my  emperor !  "  "  Even  so,"  said  Henry  lY.,  and  I  come 
as  a  fugitive  to  claim  your  hospitality."   "  A  fugitive  !  ^Vho  has  dared 


372 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


to  commit  this  crime  against  his  emperor  ?  "  demanded  the  castellan, 
as  his  hand  sought  his  sword.  "  My  son  !  even  my  son  !  "  answered 
Henry,  and  he  covered  his  face  to  conceal  his  tears.  "  Thank 
heaven,  my  friend,  that  you  have  no  sons,  but  these  loving  daughters 
to  cheer  your  old  age.  How  gladly  would  I  exchange  my  lot  for 
yours,  my  brave  friend  !  "  The  emperor  resided  here  for  some  time 
in  order  to  escape  from  Henry  Y.,  and  here  he  kept  the  royal  insig- 
nia, until  it  was  removed  by  the  same  usurping  son.  When  he  left, 
the  old  castellan  accompanied  him  to  Cologne,  and  he  often 
reflected  on  the  words  of  the  good  emperor,  and  never  again  desired 
a  greater  joy  than  to  live  and  be  happy  with  his  charming  daughters. 

Heidelberg.  The  JettehUhl  or  Wolfshrunnen.  A  road  from 
the  east  of  the  Castle  of  Heidelberg  leads  to  a  spot  where  the  water 
of  a  spring  flows  oft'  into  five  different  ponds.  Here  many  years 
ago,  according  to  tradition,  the  23riestess  Jetta  died.  She  lived  in  an 
adjacent  grove,  where  she  was  accustomed  to  make  sacrifices  to  Her- 
tha  and  reveal  the  will  and  wisdom  of  that  divinity.  One  day  as 
Jetta  sat  by  the  altar,  a  young  man  advanced  from  the  wood  and 
desired  her  to  tell  his  fate.  The  maiden  raised  her  eyes  to  his,  and 
instantly  he  felt  that  all  he  had  heard  of  her  wondrous  beauty  was 
more  than  true,  and  a  strange  charm  was  over  him.  The  priestess 
too  was  confused  and  unable  to  answer  as  was  her  custom.  "  You 
have  come,"  said  she,  "  at  a  time  when  the  spirit  of  prophecy  has 
left  me.  Return  at  this  hour  to-morrow.  Meantime  I  will  offer  a 
sacrifice,  and  demand  of  Hertha  that  which  you  would  know."  The 
yputh  assured  her  that  he  should  return,  and  added  that  in  leaving 
her  he  left  more  than  the  future  could  possibly  give  him.  When  a 
short  distance  away  he  stopped  to  admire  the  beauty  of  the  maiden 
as  she  sat  unconscious  of  his  gaze.  When  he  came  next  day  Jetta 
was  in  the  same  place  and  attitude  as  before,  and  he  knelt  at  her 
feet  and  kissed  the  border  of  her  robe.  "  You  have  come  to  hear 
your  fortune,"  said  Jetta.  "  Yes,  from  the  lips  of  her  I  love,  but  not 
from  a  prophetess,"  replied  he  tenderly.  She  was  not  angry,  even 
when  he  drew  her  to  himself  and  passionately  kissed  her,  but  he  soon 
perceived  that  she  was  weeping  piteously,  and  his  efforts  at  consol- 
ing her  were  quite  unavailing.  She  told  him  that  his  love  was  fully 
requited,  but  that  it  was  forbidden  a  priestess  of  Hertha  to  love  or 
be  the  wife  of  any  man,  and  she  feared  the  punishment  which  the 
outraged  divinity  would  inflict  on  her.  Then  she  promised  to  meet 
him  often  in  secret  at  the  spring  near  by,  and  when  he  left  her  it 
was  with  the  hope  of  seeing  her  there  the  next  evening.  He  car- 
ried with  him  a  light  heart  and  did  not  fail  to  keep  the  tryst,  but 
what  was  his  horror,  as  he  approached  the  fountain,  to  see  Jetta  lying 
dead,  and  a  wolf  drinking  the  blood  from  the  wounds  he  had  made 
in  her  bosom !  He  rushed  upon  the  ferocious  monster  and  thrust  it 
through.    Raising  Jetta,  he  lavished  caresses  upon  her,  and  called 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


373 


her  to  answer  him  in  vain.  Hertha  had  indeed  punished  her  faith- 
less priestess ! 

Heisterbach.  The  Sleeping  Skeptic.  The  old  Convent  of  Heis- 
terbach  is  situated  in  a  ravine  in  the  midst  of  the  Siebengebirge. 
Here  many  years  ago  dwelt  a  monk,  Aloysius,  quite  celebrated  for 
his  learning  and  untiring  study  of  the  Scriptures.  But  there  was 
one  passage  which  he  could  never  understand  and  which  so  staggered 
his  faith  as  to  make  him  very  unhappy,  and  at  times  the  abbot  and 
his  brother  monks  feared  for  his  reason.  The  difficult  passage  was 
this  :  "  One  day  is  with  the  Lord  as  a  thousand  years,  and  a  thousand 
years  as  one  day."  This  constantly  occupied  his  thoughts.  At 
length  as  he  wandered  in  a  wood  near  the  cloister  he  fell  asleep,  and 
when  he  awoke  he  heard  the  vesper  bell.  He  returned  to  the  con- 
vent ;  the  monk  who  admitted  him  was  a  stranger,  but  he  did  not 
stop  to  think  of  this,  and  entered  the  chapel.  He  found  his  seat 
occupied,  and  by  one  whom  he  knew  not,  and  who  regarded  him 
with  the  same  astonishment  that  he  felt.  Meanwhile  the  singing 
ceased,  and  as  he  gazed  about  him  he  found  that  all  the  monks  were 
unknown  to  him.  They  also  wondered  at  him,  and  gathered  about 
him  to  inquire  his  name.  When  he  answered  them  and  declared 
that  he  belonged  to  the  convent,  they  regarded  him  with  great  sur- 
prise and  believed  him  insane.  Then  one  remembered  to  have  read 
that  a  monk  Aloysius,  of  great  learning,  had  disappeared  in  the  wood, 
and  when  Aloysius  mentioned  the  name  of  his  abbot  they  found  it 
was  three  hundred  years  since  he  had  gone  to  sleep  in  the  forest. 
God  had  done  this  miracle  to  convince  him  of  his  power,  and  his 
doubts  were  banished  from  that  hour. 

Heppenheim.   See  Lorsch. 

Hohenbaden.    See  Baden-Baden. 

Ingelheim.  Below  Mayence,  near  where  the  villages  of  Nieder- 
ingelheim  and  Oberingelheim  now  stand,  the  Emperor  Charlemagne 
had  his  favorite  palace,  some  of  the  ruins  of  which  still  remain. 
There  lived  then  in  the  Rheingau,  a  hermit  who  cured  all  manner 
of  diseases  and  gave  every  patient  who  visited  him  some  small  pres- 
ent. The  emperor  was  very  curious  to  see  him,  and  sent  a  mes- 
senger to  request  his  presence.  The  hermit  replied  that  his  visits 
were  more  needed  at  the  cottages  of  the  poor  than  at  the  palaces  of 
the  rich,  and  added  that  as  the  emperor  had  much  better  conve- 
niences for  travelling  than  himself,  it  would  be  better  that  he  should 
come  to  him.  This  much  surprised  his  majesty,  and  he  laughingly 
d'etermined  to  pay  him  a  visit.  One  night  he  was  restless  and  un- 
easy, and  after  vainly  endeavoring  to  sleep  he  determined  to  go  then 
to  the  hermit.  He  arose  and  dressed  in  an  ordinary  suit  of  armor, 
went  to  the  stables  and  saddled  a  horse,  and  rode  away  without  being 
seen  by  any  one.  He  had  not  gone  far  into  the  forest  when  he  met 
a  knight  in  black  armor.    He  addressed  Charlemagne,  desiring  to 


374 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


know  whence  he  came  and  whither  he  went.  The  emperor  replied 
that  he  came  from  Ingelheim  in  search  of  an  adventure.  The  knight 
questioned  him  still  farther  concerning  the  lateness  of  the  hour  and 
the  fact  of  his  being  alone,  and  at  last  demanded  his  name.  The 
emperor  answered  that  he  was  called  Charles,  and  asked  the  name 
of  the  stranger.  Elbegast,"  was  the  reply.  "What,'*  said  Charles, 
"  are  you  the  robber  whom  the  emperor  has  sentenced  ?  "  "  Softly, 
more  softly,  my  friend,  the  emperor  is  not  to  blame,  for  he  is  misin- 
formed by  those  about  him.  But  if  I  could  meet  him  here  as  I  do 
you,  I  would  soon  tell  him  by  what  a  set  of  thieves  and  liars  he  is 
surrounded."  "You  speak  like  an  orator,"  said  the  emperor.  "I 
am  frank  and  sincere,  at  least,  but  if  you  will  ride  with  me  to-night 
we  must  away.  I  am  on  a  track,  which  if  it  misleads  me  not,  will 
break  the  necks  of  some  of  those  rascals,  whether  Charles  thanks  me 
for  it  or  no."  "  Perhaps  you  feel  the  emperor  should  reward  you  for 
your  skill  in  breaking  necks  !  "  "  If  I  do  it  to-night,  it  will  be  for 
his  benefit  and  he  ought  to  do  so."  Then  the  emperor  decided  to 
accompany  him,  and  they  proceeded  like  friends.  Soon  they  reached 
a  fortress  where  Elbegast  alighted,  and  signed  for  Charles  to  do  so. 
They  proceeded  to  a  small  door,  which  the  robber  opened  with  an 
implement  Avhich  he  carried  for  the  purpose.  They  entered  a  dark 
corridor  and  proceeded  through  a  gloomy  apartment,  separated  only 
by  a  folding-door  from  one  brilliantly  lighted,  in  which  men  were 
talking.  As  they  listened  one  was  speaking  of  the  emperor  and  his 
power,  and  declaring  that  a  stop  must  be  put  to  it.  "  To  the  devil, 
with  you  !  "  murmured  Charles,  as  he  tried  to  see  the  speaker.  What 
was  his  surprise  as  he  recognized  Count  Eggerich  of  Eggermonde, 
for  whom  he  had  done  so  much.  What  would  Charlemagne  say  to 
that  ? "  asked  Elbegast.  But  Charles  motioned  him  to  be  silent. 
They  listened  thus  until  they  heard  a  plan  made  for  the  murder  of  the 
emperor.  All  swore  to  it  upon  a  crucifix  in  the  hands  of  a  high  prelate. 
As  they  retired  Charles  asked  Elbegast  to  come  next  day  to  the 
palace  to  tell  the  emperor  what  they  had  heard,  saying  that  he  would 
be  there  as  a  witness.  But  the  robber  replied  that  he  would  do  no 
such  thing,  as  it  would  be  sure  to  cost  him  his  life.  "  Is  the  empe- 
ror so  unjust  ?  "  asked  Charlemagne.  "  Not  he,  but  his  vassals  ;  they 
would  cut  my  throat  before  I  reached  the  emperor."  "  Then  I  will 
tell  him.  But  tell  me  where  I  can  meet  you."  "  No,  no  !  Elbegast 
is  not  so  foolish  as  to  be  thus  caught !  "  and  the  robber  laughed  mer- 
rily. "  Elbegast,  I  summon  you  in  the  emperor's  name  to  appear 
before  him  to-morrow  morning."  "  Who  are  you  to  speak  thus  ?  " 
"  Your  former  enemy  and  present  friend.  Elbegast,  I  am  the  Emperor 
Charlemagne  1  "  Then  Elbegast  leaped  from  his  horse  and  came 
joyfully  to  Charles,  exclaiming,  "  My  emperor,  and  my  lord  !  "  "  Come 
then  to  me  in  the  morning,  I  will  prepare  all  for  you."  Saying  which 
Charles  rode  quickly  away  to  Ingelheim.    In  the  end  the  traitors 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


375 


were  hanged,  but  Elbegast  was  made  rich  and  loaded  with  honors. 
Some  time  after  the  emperor  again  set  out  to  visit  the  hermit,  and 
this  time  Elbegast  accompanied  him.  As  they  rode  on  they  met  the 
daughter  of  a  charcoal-burner  who  was  very  pretty.  The  emperor, 
who  was  ever  fond  of  beauty,  patted  her  upon  the  cheek  and  stoop- 
ing from  his  horse  clasped  her  with  an  arm,  and  would  have  kissed 
her.  She  drew  back  and  ran  to  a  tall  man  who  then  appeared,  and 
who  was  in  fact  no  other  than  the  hermit.  He  looked  at  the  empe- 
ror. Have  you  daughters  ?  "  asked  he.  And  if  I  have  ?  re- 
plied Charlemagne.  Then  do  not  forget  what  you  have  now 
done  to  this  girl,  and  censure  not  others  if  the  same  thing  should 
happen  to  your  own."  "  Elbegast,"  said  the  monarch,  "  I  believe  I 
cannot  put  on  this  attire,  but  I  receive  some  salutary  lesson  like  this." 
"  And  I  know,  my  master,  how  well  you  profit  by  them." 

Eginhard  and  Emma,  The  favorite  of  Charlemagne  was  young 
Eginhard,  his  private  secretary,  and  he  dearly  loved  Emma, 
the  daughter  whom  the  emperor  idolized,  and  this  affection  was 
fully  returned.  They  were  frequently  together  during  the  day, 
but  in  so  cold  and  constrained  a  manner  as  not  at  all  to  satisfy 
their  lover's  hearts ;  so  the  young  man  was  accustomed  to  go  at 
night  to  the  maiden's  apartments.  One  night  while  he  was  there, 
a  snow  fell  and  when  he  would  have  crossed  the  court  he  did  not 
dare  to  do  so,  as  his  foot-prints  would  betray  his  visit  and  expose 
Emma  to  unworthy  suspicions.  After  much  discussion  Emma  per- 
suaded him  to  allow  her  to  carry  him  to  the  other  side  of  the  court, 
upon  her  shoulders.  Of  course  he  at  first  refused,  but  as  no  other 
plan  could  be  thought  of  by  which  to  avoid  exposure,  he  at  length 
consented.  Now  the  emperor  had  arranged  his  own  apartments  so 
that  none  could  pass  the  court  unseen  by  him.  This  night  he  could 
not  sleep,  and  as  he  walked  his  chamber  he  saw  the  strange  sight 
which  Eginhard  and  Emma  presented,  and  also  recognized  them. 
At  first  he  was  furiously  angry,  and  would  have  killed  Eginhard, 
then  he  remembered  the  admonition  of  the  hermit.  "  If  such  a 
thing  should  happen  to  your  daughter  censure  no  one,"  and  he  could 
but  laugh  at  his  child's  cunning  and  determination.  Next  morning 
he  sent  for  Eginhard  and  asked  him  what  punishment  was  due  one 
who  abused  the  confidence  of  his  patron  and  seduced  his  child. 
Eginhard  could  not  endure  to  hear  his  love  called  seduction,  for  he 
respected  Emma  as  much  as  he  loved  her.  Death,  if  the  father 
cannot  pardon  the  love,"  was  his  reply.  "  Then  you  love  my  daugh- 
ter. But  I  well  know  why ;  it  is  because  she  is  the  child  of  Char- 
lemagne." Eginhard  declared  that  he  would  love  Emma,  were 
she  any  other.  The  emperor  then  led  him  to  her  apartments  and 
threatened  her  with  the  death  of  her  lover.  She  begged  that  any 
punishment  might  be  inflicted  upon  herself  if  only  he  could  go  un- 
harmed.   When  Charlemagne  saw  that  she  truly  loved  him,  he  told 


376 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


them  that  if  they  married  they  must  ,go  far  away ;  that  Emma 
would  no  longer  be  considered  as  his  child,  neither  could  he  give  her 
any  dowry.  They  begged  his  blessing,  and  he  answered  that  while 
he  would  give  them  nothing  else,  that  he  could  not  refuse.  Then 
they  went  away.  They  crossed  the  Rhine,  and  prepared  to  lead  an 
humble  life,  far  from  the  palace  of  Charlemagne.  Years  after,  as 
the  emperor  hunted  in  the  Odenwald,  he  was  separated  from  his 
huntsmen  and  friends.  While  he  was  alone,  he  came  to  a  neat  cot- 
tage, where  he  saw  a  lovely  young  mother  playing  with  her  child. 
He  watched  them  some  time,  quite  undiscovered,  and  he  thought  he 
had  never  seen  so  beautiful  a  domestic  picture  as  this  young  woman 
and  all  her  surroundings  presented.  Suddenly  she  turned  towards 
him  and  he  saw  that  it  was  Emma.  Then  she  ran  lovingly  to  him, 
and  begged  his  blessing  for  her  child.  She  told  him  that  Eginhard 
tilled  the  land  for  their  support,  and  that  he  would  soon  return  to 
his  cottage  home.  The  emperor  pressed  her  thankfully  to  his  heart, 
and  when  Eginhard  came,  he  freely  forgave  them  all.  When  the 
emperor's  train  arrived,  they  found  him  at  supper  with  his  children, 
and  more  happy  than  for  years  previously.  He  took  them  home 
with  him  and  made  Eginhard  secretary  of  state,  but  though  from 
this  time  all  was  prosperity,  the  young  couple  did  not  forget  the 
cottage  where  they  had  been  so  happy,  and  often  visited  it  for  the 
sake  of  its  sweet  associations. 

Queen  H'ddegarde.  Once  upon  a  time  when  Charlemagne 
marched  against  the  Saxons,  he  left  the  knight  Thaland  in  charge 
of  the  Castle  at  Ingelheim,  and  to  him  especially  commended  Queen 
Hildegarde,  desiring  him  to  protect  her  from  every  danger,  and  to 
report  to  him  on  his  return,  all  that  had  occurred  in  his  absence. 
Now  Thaland  had  been  educated  at  the  Grecian  Court,  and  had  so 
mean  an  idea  of  female  virtue  that  he  believed  that  every  woman 
could  be  unfaithful  to  her  lord  and  husband.  But  at  the  court  of 
Charlemagne  he  had  devoted  himself  to  no  lady,  for  since  the  day 
when  he  first  saw  Hildegarde,  no  other  had  any  charms  for  him. 
She  so  far  outshone  all,  as  to  render  him  indifferent  to  others,  and 
thus  his  conduct  had  been  such  as  to  win  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  the  emperor.  But  now,  having  the  opportunity,  he  re- 
solved to  gain  the  favor  of  the  queen.  He  began  to  show  his  re- 
gard by  many  little  attentions  and  glances  which  Hildegarde  could 
not  fail  to  understand.  She  allowed  this  to  pass  without  remark, 
and  at  length  when  an  opportunity  offered,  he  declared  his  love  in 
the  most  passionate  language,  and  swore  that  life  was  valueless  if 
this  affection  were  not  returned.  Hildegarde  repulsed  him  with  all 
the  anger  and  contempt  which  he  merited ;  but  he  believed  this  to  be 
a  ruse,  and  could  not  understand  that  she  was  in  truth  a  loving  wife 
and  virtuous  woman.  Next  day  he  repeated  his  offense,  and  the 
queen  determined  not  to  be  subject  to  this  insult  during  all  the  ab- 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


377 


sence  of  her  husband,  but  to  rid  herself  of  it  by  a  harmless  deceit. 
She  feigned  to  listen  to  him  with  some  favor,  and  made  an  appoint- 
ment to  meet  him  the  following  evening  in  a  part  of  the  palace  quite 
unfrequented,  where  they  could  converse  without  fear  of  interrup- 
tion. The  knight  was  delighted  with  what  he  considered  his  success. 
He  proceeded  to  the  appointed  place  and  the  queen  was  not  long  in 
coming.  She  desired  him  to  enter  an  apartment  to  which  she  led  the 
way.  No  sooner  was  he  within  than  she  closed  the  door  and  he 
found  himself  her  prisoner.  She  declared  that  there  he  should  remain 
until  the  return  of  the  emperor.  Thaland  was  devoured  with  rage, 
but  he  was  also  powerless  to  free  himself.  Each  day  a  discreet  ser- 
vant of  the  queen  brought  him  a  frugal  allowance  of  food  ;  this  was 
passed  through  a  small  grated  door,  and  then  he  was  left  in  solitude. 
He  constantly  sent  the  most  earnest  entreaties  to  Hildegarde  to  set 
him  at  liberty,  as  well  as  assurances  of  his  hearty  repentance. 
When  Hildegarde  heard  that  the  emperor  was  at  hand,  she  deter- 
mined to  free  the  knight,  and  did  so  the  very  day  that  Charlemagne 
entered  the  castle.  She  made  a  pretense  that  he  had  been  on  a 
secret  mission,  to  those  who  had  noticed  his  absence.  The  knight 
was  determined  to  be  revenged  on  the  queen,  and  proceeded  to 
excite  the  jealousy  of  Charlemagne.  He  declared  that  Hildegarde 
had  been  so  shameless  in  her  conduct  with  a  strange  knight,  that  he 
had  retired  to  a  distant  place  rather  than  witness  the  infidelity  of 
the  woman  who  was  left  in  his  charge,  by  a  man  whom  he  esteemed 
as  he  did  the  emperor.  Charles  loved  his  wife  so  fondly  that  he  was 
easily  enraged  by  jealousy,  and  he  commanded  that  the  queen  should 
be  taken  to  a  neighboring  forest  and  there  decapitated.  Thaland 
gladly  undertook  the  execution  of  this  sentence,  and  gave  the  queen 
to  two  villains  who  were  sure  to  do  his  will.  These  men  dragged 
Hildegarde  away,  but  just  as  they  would  have  completed  their 
dreadful  task,  a  tall  white  figure  approached  them,  and  in  a  hollow 
voice,  commanded  them  to  release  their  victim.  The  assassins  fled 
affrighted,  but  they  declared  to  Thaland  that  his  command  had  been 
executed.  It  was  the  faithful  waiting-maid  of  the  queen  who  had 
thus  saved  her  ;  she  had  felt  herself  powerless  at  the  courfc  and  under 
the  eye  of  Thaland,  but  had  followed  the  queen,  determined  to  save 
her  life.  Convinced  that  there  was  no  safety  in  returning,  they  pro- 
ceeded to  the  cell  of  a  hermit,  where  they  remained  some  time,  and 
the  queen  learned  from  him  the  art  of  curing  diseases  by  the  use  of 
herbs.  At  length  the  two  women  proceeded  to  Rome,  where  Hil- 
degarde supported  them  by  her  skill  in  medicine.  She  soon  became 
very  noted,  and  even  the  pope  consulted  her.  She  assumed  the 
name  of  Arabella,  and  her  fame  extended  even  to  Germany.  Char- 
lemagne had  known  no  peace  since  his  separation  from  the  queen, 
and  was  constantly  brooding  on  her  death,  tormented  by  the  reflec- 
tion that  possibly  she  was  not  guilty.    At  length  he  determined  to 


378 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


visit  Rome,  and  Thaland,  who  was  also  ill  in  body  and  mind,  begged 
to  be  allowed  to  accompany  him.  When  they  reached  Rome,  Tha- 
land decided  to  consult  the  wonderful  woman  of  whom  he  had 
heard.  Hildegarde  had  seen  the  wretch  by  the  side  of  her  hus- 
band when  they  made  their  public  entry  into  the  city.  She 
now  assured  him  that  if  he  had  committed  any  crime  it  must  be 
confessed,  or  her  remedies  could  have  no  power,  and  he  must  surely 
die.  Thaland  was  greatly  distressed.  He  deferred  his  confession 
from  day  to  day,  but  at  last  becoming  seriously  alarmed  for  his  life, 
he  sent  for  the  emperor  to  attend  his  bedside  and  at  the  same  time 
summoned  Arabella.  He  then  confessed  how  he  had  sinned  against 
Charlemagne,  and  the  innocency  of  the  queen.  Charles  was  con- 
vulsed with  agony,  and  when  Hildegarde  entered  she  could  not  re- 
strain herself  from  exclaiming,  "  O,  my  lord  and  husband  !  "  and 
she  fell  at  his  feet.  Charlemagne  raised  her  joyfully,  and  held  her 
in  a  loving  embrace.  Gladly  they  returned  thanks  to  God  who  had 
thus  brought  them  out  of  all  their  sorrows.  The  wretched  Thaland 
had  sunk  upon  a  chair,  and  when  Charles  turned  to  him  life  had 
already  flown.  Then  was  there  a  feast  made  in  Rome  such  as  none 
had  seen  before,  and  at  this  festival  Charlemagne  and  his  queen 
were  blessed  by  the  pope  and  returned  to  Ingelheim  in  great  happi- 
ness. The  faithful  waiting-woman  was  by  no  means  forgotten,  and 
with  joy  returned  to  her  home  on  the  Rhine,  where  the  queen  ever 
honored  her  as  a  dear  friend.  The  Abbey  of  Kempton  was  founded 
by  Hildegarde  as  a  token  of  her  gratitude  to  heaven  for  returning 
her  to  her  husband  and  home. 

Kevelaer.  Foundation  of  the  Town.  According  to  the  re- 
ligious traditions,  this  town  was  founded  in  the  seventeenth  century. 
As  Heinrich  Buschmann  journeyed  over  Kevelaer  plain  at  a  certain 
Christmas-time  he  came  to  a  cross  by  the  road-side.  He  stopped 
and  prayed  earnestly,  and  as  he  did  so,  heard  a  voice  cry  out,  "  Here 
you  are  to  build  me  a  shrine."  A  few  days  later  the  same  thing  oc- 
curred in  the  same  place.  Then  Buschmann  resolved  that  he  would 
save  a  portion  of  his  earnings  for  the  purpose  of  fulfilling  this  com- 
mand, but  as  he  was  not  a  rich  man,  he  could  not  hope  to  erect 
any  other  than  a  simple  slirine.  The  winter  passed,  and  when 
spring  came  the  good  man  had  put  aside  the  necessary  sum,  when 
one  day  his  wife  related  to  him  a  vision  which  came  to  her  nightly. 
It  was  that  of  a  shrine  on  which  was  a  figure  of  the  Holy  Virgin. 
They  then  told  their  story  to  some  monks  who  inhabited  a  cloister 
near  them,  and  they  assisted  them  in  the  performance  of  their 
heaven-directed  labor.  The  shrine  was  completed,  and  the  statue 
of  the  Virgin  and  Child  unveiled,  June  1,  1642.  So  many  pil- 
grims visited  it,  and  so  wonderful  were  the  miracles  there  performed, 
that  houses  were  erected  near  by,  and  from  this  beginning,  the 
town  of  Kevelaer  gradually  arose.    In  1842  the  two  hundredth  an- 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


379 


niversary  of  the  consecration  of  the  shrine  was  celebrated,  at  which 
time  two  hundred  thousand  persons  visited  it  as  pilgrims. 

The  Klingelkapelle.   See  Gernsbach. 

The  Knight's  Leap.    See  Baden-Baden. 

Konigsdorf.  The  Election  of  Bishop  Hildehold.  During  the 
reign  of  Charlemagne,  there  arose  a  great  dispute  at  Cologne  con- 
cerning the  election  of  a  bishop.  The  emperor  heard  so  much 
of  it  that  he  determined  to  go  himself  to  decide  the  difficulty  and 
appoint  such  a  bishop  as  should  seem  best  to  him.  So  he  went 
without  a  retinue,  and  as  he  reached  Konigsdorf,  the  bell  called  the 
people  to  hear  mass.  The  pious  monarch  dismounted,  and  entered 
the  church.  When  the  service  was  ended,  he  approached  the  priest 
to  give  him  a  piece  of  gold  as  an  offering.  This  the  priest  refused, 
saying  that  he  had  no  need  of  such  money,  and  that  it  was  not  the 
custom  of  his  church  to  receive  it.  "  But,"  he  added,  "  you  have  the 
appearance  of  a  hunter,  and  if  you  will  give  me  a  hide  from  a  stag 
or  roe,  you  will  do  a  good  work ;  for  my  mass-book  is  in  sad  need 
of  a  binding."  This  simplicity  and  earnestness  impressed  the  empe- 
ror and  he  resolved  to  remember  the  priest.  When  he  was  come  to 
Cologne  he  summoned  the  clergy,  and  told  them  he  would  himself 
appoint  the  new  bishop.  Then  each  party  attempted  to  influence 
him  in  their  favor,  and  large  sums  of  money  were  paid  him  to  secure 
his  interest.  The  gold  he  ordered  to  be  used  to  pay  the  debts  of 
the  bishopric,  and  at  length  he  told  them  that  they  had  endeavored 
to  bribe  him  in  vain,  and  that  he  found  none  so  worthy  as  the  priest 
of  the  forest  chapel  at  Konigsdorf,  for  he  despised  his  gold,  and 
seemed  only  intent  upon  his  mass-book.  He  had  therefore  deter- 
mined to  make  him  bishop.  The  astonishment  of  the  priest  was 
great  when  he  learned  the  high  dignity  to  which  he  was  called ;  but 
he  possessed  the  grace  of  God,  and  by  it  was  instructed  how 
to  conduct  himself  in  his  new  office,  and  the  name  of  Bishop  Hildebold 
is  still  remembered  in  Cologne,  where  he  founded  the  dome  of  St. 
Peter's,  on  the  same  spot  as  that  on  which  the  present  cathedral  stands. 

Konigswinter.    See  Drachenfels. 

Kreuznach.  The  Ebemburg.  There  are  two  legends  con- 
nected with  the  name  of  this  castle.  One  relates  that  during  the 
fifteenth  century  it  was  besieged,  and  when  the  provisions  were  al- 
most exhausted  and  they  had  come  to  the  last  boar,  the  master  of 
the  castle  had  it  taken  out  every  day  and  bound  as  if  for  slaughter, 
and  then  put  again  in  its  pen.  Thus  each  morning  the  besiegers 
heard  the  sound  as  of  a  boar  being  killed,  and  reasoned  that  it 
would  be  long  ere  the  provisions  could  be  exhausted,  and  as  they 
were  already  weary  they  raised  the  siege.  From  that  time  the  cas- 
tle was  called  Ebernburg.  Another  tradition  recounts  that  when  the 
robber  knight  Rupert  possessed  the  castle,  he  desired  to  marry  the 
Countess  of  Montfort.     She  had  refused  him  and  preferred  the 


380 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


Rhine  Count  Heinrich.  Rupert  desired  to  be  revenged,  and  until 
he  could  devise  some  measure  to  accomplish  his  end,  he  retired  to  his 
estates  and  passed  much  of  his  time  in  hunting.  One  day  he  was 
coming  from  the  chase  when  he  met  a  large  fierce  boar  near  the 
Rheingrafenstein.  So  thick  was  his  skin  that  the  weapons  thrown 
at  him  only  rebounded,  and  Count  Rupert  having  lost  all  he  car- 
ried stood  unarmed  before  the  savage  beast,  expecting  to  be  killed  in- 
stantly. Suddenly  the  monster  fell  dead  at  his  feet,  killed  by  a 
well-directed  blow,  and  when  he  looked  around  to  thank  his  deliverer, 
he  saw  only  the  Count  Heinrich.  This  was  the  cause  of  a  perfect 
reconciliation  between  the  two  counts,  and  soon  the  Count  Heinrich 
was  married  to  the  beautiful  Montfort.  In  commemoration  of  this 
event,  the  head  of  a  boar  was  carved  in  stone  and  placed  above  the 
door  of  the  castle  which  was  called  Ebernburg.  This  castle  has 
many  interesting  historical  associations.  Here  Ulrich  von  Plutten 
wrote  his  letters  to  Charles  V.  and  the  German  nation.  It  was  the 
stronghold  of  Franz  von  Sickingen  and  in  it  his  noble  wife,  Hedwig, 
received  and  cared  for  many  outlaws  and  fugitives,  and  it  was  some- 
times called  the    Asylum  of  Justice." 

Laach.  Near  Laach  is  the  Frauenkirche  founded  by  Genevieve 
of  Brabant,  in  thankfulness  for  her  restoration  to  her  husband  after 
having  been  separated  from  him  by  the  treachery  of  his  steward 
Golo,  with  whom  her  husband,  Count  Siegfried,  had  left  the  care  of 
his  wife  while  he  was  absent  in  war.  See  legend  in  preceding  por- 
tion of  this  book. 

Lahneck.  The  Order  of  Knight  Templars  founded  by  Godfrey 
de  Bouillon,  for  the  protection  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  in  1118,  in  a 
short  time  became  rich  and  powerful,  and  spread  all  over  Europe. 
The  clergy  were  jealous  of  it,  and  Pope  Clement  V.  determined  to 
exterminate  them  with  the  help  of  Phillippe  le  Bel.  Molay  was 
lured  to  France  with  sixty  knights,  and  there  they  were  all  exe- 
cuted and  their  property  confiscated.  Then  the  pope  commanded 
the  Archbishop  of  Mayence,  Peter  of  Aichspalt,  to  exterminate  the 
knights  in  his  diocese.  The  Templars  held  the  Castle  of  Lahneck, 
and  they  there  defied  the  bishop.  They  were  besieged,  and  as  their 
number  was  small  they  were  surrounded.  At  length  all  save  one 
were  killed,  and  he  was  summoned  to  surrender ;  but  he  declared 
that  he  would  never  do  so,  and  pointed  to  his  fallen  comrades  with 
pride.  At  this  juncture  a  messenger  arrived,  who  proclaimed,  a 
truce  from  the  emperor.  The  besiegers  laid  down  their  arms,  and 
the  messenger  respectfully  approached  the  remaining  knight,  saying : 
^'  Surrender  to  me  your  arms,  noble  sir.  I  regret  not  having  come 
in  time  to  save  your  brethren,  but  to  you  I  can  promise  safety  of  life 
and  property.''  "  Think  of  Molay  and  his  murdered  followers  ! 
Think  of  my  comrades  slain  here  ?  "  replied  he.  ^'  As  they  had  no 
mercy,  I  desire  none  !  "  Then  he  rushed  upon  the  enemy  and  fell 
pierced  with  many  wounds. 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


381 


Lichtenthal,  Convent  of.    See  Baden-Baden. 

Liebenstein  and  Sterrenberg.  These  two  castles,  called 
The  Brothers,"  are  situated  not  far  from  the  village  of  Camp,  upon 
a  sharp  ledge  of  rocks  at  the  foot  of  which  is  the  Convent  of  Born- 
hofen.  In  Liebenstein  lived  the  noble  Bayer  of  Boppard  with  his 
sons,  Conrad  and  Heinrich,  and  their  beautiful  foster-sister,  Hilde- 
garde.  The  father  was  anxious  that  one  of  the  brothers  should  wed 
with  Hildegarde,  but  he  was  pained  to  see  that  both  were  enamored 
of  her.  Heinrich  with  true  generosity  determined  to  leave  the  prize 
to  Conrad,  and  joining  the  Crusades  fought  with  such  bravery  as  to 
cause  his  name  to  resound  through  all  Europe,  as  well  as  in  the  East. 
The  wooing  of  Conrad  was  successful,  and  soon  he  was  betrothed  to 
Hildegarde.  Then  the  old  knight,  in  order  that  the  young  couple 
should  be  near  him,  commenced  the  erection  of  Castle  Sterrenberg. 
But  he  died  before  its  completion,  and  the  marriage  was  deferred  for 
a  year.  During  this  time  Conrad  was  much  with  gay  companions 
who  represented  marriage  to  him  as  slavery  ;  he  also  greatly  envied 
the  fame  of  his  brother,  and  finally  he  too,  determined  to  join  the 
Crusades.  Hildegarde  passed  her  days  in  close  retirement,  mourning 
the  absence  of  her  lover,  and  praying  for  his  safe  return.  Mean- 
time Sterrenberg  was  finished,  and  made  ready  to  receive  the  young 
people.  Suddenly  Hildegarde  was  startled  by  the  news  that  Conrad 
had  returned  with  a  lovely  Grecian  bride,  and  would  be  received 
at  Sterrenberg  with  great  festivities.  This  proved  but  too  true,  and 
the  heart-broken  girl  shut  herself  in  the  most  lonely  chamber  of 
Liebenstein,  and  refused  to  see  any  one  save  her  attendant.  Hein- 
rich hearing  of  his  brother's  treachery  returned  to  Liebenstein,  de- 
termined to  avenge  the  wrongs  of  Hildegarde,  and  one  morning  sud- 
denly appeared  before  her.  He  challenged  Conrad  to  mortal  com- 
bat, which  was  about  to  begin,  when  Hildegarde  stepped  between 
them  and  begged  them  to  desist  and  be  reconciled  to  each  other, 
leaving  vengeance  to  God  alone.  She  soon  entered  the  Convent  of 
Bornhofen.  It  was  not  long  ere  the  Grecian  proved  as  faithless  as 
Conrad  had  been,  and  eloped  with  a  friend  of  her  husband's.  Then 
the  brothers  became  fully  reconciled,  and  lived  together  at  Lieben- 
stein, while  Sterrenberg  was  forever  deserted.  This  tradition  and 
that  of  the  Lurlei,  are  the  most  popular  of  all  the  legends  of  the 
Bhine. 

Lorch.  The  Devil's  Ladder.  Near  Lorch  is  a  steep  cliff 
called  the  Kedrich,  or  "  Devil's  Ladder."  This  was  the  home  of 
mountain  spirits  who  did  much  mischief  in  the  surrounding  country, 
and  could  never  be  assailed  or  punished,  as  their  retreat  was  inacces- 
sible. The  knight  Sibo,  of  Lorch,  had  become  gloomy  and  morose 
after  his  wife's  death,  and  lived  in  retirement  with  his  only  child,  a 
beautiful  maiden  of  fourteen.  One  evening  some  strangers  requested 
his  hospitalities,  and  he  drove  them  away  with  abusive  language. 


382 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


The  next  day  his  daughter  went  to  the  fields  and  did  not  return.  A 
search  was  made,  and  the  father  was  wild  with  grief,  for  this  child 
was  his  idol.  At  length  a  shepherd  lad  said  he  had  seen  two  little 
gray  men  who  led  a  maiden  toward  the  Kedrich.  Hither  the  father 
hastened,  and  there  high  above  him  he  saw  the  little  spirits  who 
led  away  his  child,  and  they  cried  out  to  him,  "  This  is  the  reward 
of  your  hospitality;  when  you  know  how  to  show  it  better  we  will 
restore  her  to  you."  Years  passed  on,  and  every  morning  and  even- 
ing the  maiden  could  be  seen  walking  on  the  top  of  the  inaccessible 
cliff.  Now  a  young  man  who  had  loved  her  from  childhood  returned 
from  his  wanderings,  and  went  at  once  to  the  Castle  of  Sibo.  When 
he  heard  what  had  happened  he  was  inconsolable,  and  spent  much 
time  in  examining  the  Kedrich  to  see  if  he  could  not  discover  a  way 
to  climb  its  heights.  One  day  while  thus  occupied,  a  little  woman 
came  to  him  and  asked  if  he  still  loved  the  maid.  The  young  man 
desired  to  know  who  she  was,  and  if  she  could  help  him.  "  I  have 
taken  care  of  her  since  she  came  here,  and  with  a  mother's  tender- 
ness. She  loves  you,  and  if  you  are  inclined  to  marry  her  I  will 
help  you,"  said  the  funny  little  woman.  The  young  man  swore  that 
his  love  was  unchangeable.  Then  she  told  him  to  return  the  next 
day  and  she  would  assist  him,  for  it  was  time  they  should  marry,  and 
the  father  was  sufficiently  punished.  When  the  next  day  came  Sibo 
went  with  the  young  knight,  and  they  found  a  ladder  reaching  from 
the  bottom  to  the  top  of  Kedrich.  This  the  young  man  mounted, 
while  the  father  anxiously  watched  him.  Arrived  at  the  top  he 
found  an  enchanted  region.  Gardens  and  beautiful  groves  with 
fountains  and  rare  flowers  met  his  gaze.  Wandering  on  he  entered 
a  grotto  where  he  saw  the  maiden  asleep  on  a  mossy  bank.  She 
awoke  with  glad  surprise,  and  ran  to  embrace  him  lovingly.  Now  a 
gnome  stood  before  them  who  regarded  them  maliciously,  but  the 
woman  who  had  made  the  ladder  appeared,  and  speaking  to  the 
dwarf  in  an  unknown  tongue,  they  both  laughed,  and  told  the  lovers 
that  they  should  soon  be  made  happy.  The  young  man  was  in  haste 
to  depart,  and  the  dwarf  told  him  to  descend  the  ladder,  but  the 
maiden  should  go  down  more  easily.  He  obeyed,  and  found  her 
before  him,  and  in  her  father's  arms.  The  spirits  gave  the  maiden  a 
box  which  they  said  contained  her  dowry,  and  assured  her  they 
should  come  to  her  wedding,  and  so  they  did,  and  brought  rich  and 
rare  gifts  to  their  foster-daughter.  From  this  time  the  melancholy 
of  the  old  Sibo  disappeared,  and  happiness  reigned  in  the  castle, 
where  grand-children  soon  played  about  the  old  man.  The  ladder 
fell  to  pieces  in  time,  and  as  the  people  called  it  the  "  Devil's  Lad- 
der," the  cliif  has  always  retained  that  name. 

Fursteneck.  Knight  Osicald  and  Ms  revenge.  Between  this 
knight  and  Wilhelm  von  Saneck  there  existed  a  deadly  feud,  and 
the  latter  had  greatly  desired  to  get  Oswald  into  his  power.  This 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


383 


he  succeeded  at  last  in  doing  and  carried  him  to  his  castle,  where  he 
not  only  imprisoned  him,  but  with  fearful  cruelty  deprived  him  of  his 
sight.  At  his  own  castle  it  was  thought  that  Oswald  had  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  robbers,  but  as  there  were  no  proofs  of  this,  young 
Edwin,  his  only  son,  did  not  believe  it,  and  greatly  feared  he  had 
been  taken  by  the  Knight  of  Saneck.  He  determined  at  all  events 
to  ascertain,  and  disguised  as  a  minstrel  approached  the  castle. 
Arrived  there  he  found  that  a  great  banquet  was  being  given,  and  in 
his  character  of  a  musician  he  penetrated  even  to  the  room  where 
the  knight  sat  at  table  with  his  guests.  He  listened  attentively 
to  all  that  was  said,  hoping  to  hear  something  of  his  father.  At  last 
when  all  were  merry  with  wine  and  their  tongues  well  loosened,  one 
said  to  Saneck,  "  Bo  you  know  that  you  are  suspected  of  holding 
Oswald  of  Fiirsteneck  prisoner?"  "  Hum,"  said  Saneck,  "all  tales 
are  not  lies."  "  And  some  believe,"  added  the  first,  "  that  you  have 
blinded  him."  "  Well,  well,  what  then  ?  Does  it  make  any  differ- 
ence whether  a  candle  goes  out  or  is  blown  out  ? "  "  But  it  is  a 
great  pity  in  one  way,"  said  a  third,  "for  Oswald  was  a  most  skillful 
archer."  "  I  will  wager,"  said  another,  "  that  he  could  still  hit  his 
mark  if  one  made  it  known  to  him."  "  And  I  will  wager  that  he 
cannot,"  said  Saneck,  now  quite  drunk ;  and  he  ordered  the  prisoner 
to  be  brought  in.  Young  Edwin  was  almost  overcome  by  what  he 
heard,  and  when  his  father  was  brought  could  scarcely  resist  the 
impulse  to  declare  himself.  But  he  heard  Saneck  tell  him  the  wager 
and  command  a  bow  and  arrows  to  be  brought  for  him.  Then 
Oswald  said,  "  Knight  Saneck,  give  me  the  sign  of  what  I  am  to  hit." 
"  Here  on  the  table  I  place  a  cup,"  said  Wilhelm  von  Saneck,  and 
it  was  his  last  word,  for  Oswald  sent  his  arrow  when  he  heard  his 
voice,  and  it  entered  the  heart  of  the  knight.  A  wild  cry  arose 
throughout  the  hall,  but  Edwin  sprang  quickly  to  his  father  and  cried 
out,  "  I  am  the  son  of  this  poor  man !  Whoever  loves  honor,  will 
approve  his  act,  and  to  any  who  do  not,  I  will  answer  with  my 
sword."  Then  the  knights  declared  their  horror  of  the  cruelty  of 
Saneck  and  the  justice  of  his  punishment.  Edwin  conducted  his 
father  to  his  home,  where  although  he  could  not  restore  his  sight  he 
nursed  him  with  the  tenderest  care. 

Lorsch.  The  Emperor  and  the  Monk.  Once  upon  a  time 
the  Emperor  Charlemagne  being  on  a  journey,  stopped  at  the  Abbey 
of  Lorsch  to  pass  the  night.  He  was  kindly  received,  and  enter- 
tained with  a  banquet  by  the  good  monks.  But  after  retiring  to  his 
bed  he  could  not  sleep,  so  harassed  was  he,  and  full  of  care.  At  last 
he  arose  and  went  to  the  church  to  pray.  While  there  he  saw  a 
venerable  monk  who  was  blind  come  into  the  church,  being  led  by  a 
boy.  He  tottered  along  to  a  place  near  the  emperor  and  sank  on 
his  knees.  There  was  something  in  his  manner  that  fixed  the  atten- 
tion of  the  emperor,  and  he  watched  him  as  he  prayed.    He  was 


384 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


very  devout  in  his  manner,  and  his  prayers  were  often  interrupted 
with  sighs  and  groans,  and  it  seemed  to  Charlemagne  that  a  halo  of 
light  surrounded  his  head.  In  the  morning  the  emperor  related 
what  he  had  seen  to  the  abbot,  and  inquired  concerning  the  monk. 
The  abbot  said  he  knew  not  who  he  was  or  whence  he  came.  That 
he  called  himself  Bernardus,  but  had  always  refused  to  tell  anything 
concerning  himself,  although  he  had  been  some  years  with  them,  and 
was  growing  old.  This  excited  the  curiosity  of  Charlemagne,  and 
he  went  to  the  cell  of  the  monk,  where  after  a  little  he  recognized  in 
him  Thassalio,  duke  of  Bavaria,  whom  he  had  banished  years  before 
on  account  of  political  difficulties.  As  the  emperor  remembered  all 
this  he  called  him  by  name,  announced  that  he  was  Charlemagne, 
and  assured  him  of  his  forgiveness  for  his  past  wrong-doing.  Thas- 
salio was  deeply  moved,  and  told  the  emperor  how  sincerely  he  had 
repented.  He  declared  that  he  believed  God  had  pardoned  him,  and 
that  his  last  earthly  wish  had  been  that  he  might  receive  his  forgive- 
ness also.  Next  morning  Charlemagne  wished  again  to  speak  with 
him  before  his  departure,  but  the  abbot  told  him  that  the  excitement 
of  their  interview  had  deeply  moved  his  already  exhausted  nature, 
and  in  the  night  he  had  quietly  died. 

Lurlei.  The  rocks  known  by  this  name  are  just  above  St.  Goar, 
and  rise  four  hundred  and  twenty  feet  above  the  Rhine.  The  legends 
tell  that  in  days  of  yore  a  charming  maiden  lived  on  the  top,  and 
each  evening  sat  there  and  combed  her  golden  locks,  or  played  the 
lute  and  sang  melodiously.  All  who  saw  or  heard  her  were  passion- 
ately in  love  with  her,  and  many  boats  were  drawn  into  the  Gewirre, 
or  whirlpool,  while  attempting  to  near  her  home.  She  did  much  good 
to  the  fishermen,  showing  them  the  best  places  to  fish,  and  did  not 
seem  to  be  wholly  wicked.  The  fame  of  her  beauty  and  goodness 
attracted  the  son  of  the  Pfalzgraf  to  see  her.  He  ordered  his  boat- 
men to  row  toward  the  Lurlei;  they  remonstrated,  but  in  vain  ; 
they  went  and  could  see  nothing  on  the  rock ;  but  returning,  they 
heard  a  song  coming  from  the  depths  of  the  river.  Then  the  waves 
rose  as  if  with  a  storm,  and  raised  the  boat  towards  the  rock  where 
now  the  virgin  appeared  dressed  in  white  and  veiled.  Then  the 
youth  would  climb  to  her.  The  boatmen  sadly  tried  to  near  the 
rock,  but  he  leaped  out  and  was  swallowed  by  the  foaming  waters. 
His  father  was  determined  to  revenge  the  death  of  his  son,  and  sent 
soldiers  to  take  the  undine  prisoner,  that  she  might  be  burned  as  a 
witch.  She  stood  on  the  rock  smiling  while  they  climbed  up,  and 
when  they  commanded  her  to  come  down,  she  said,  "  The  Rhine 
will  receive  me  and  that  will  be  better.'*  When  they  had  almost 
reached  her,  she  bent  toward  the  river  singing,  — 

"  Hasten  hither,  lovely  waves, 
Take  me  quickly  to  your  caves." 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


385 


The  waters  rose,  and  two  waves  took  lier  away  while  she  sweetly 
sung.  But  the  men  were  thrown  down  on  the  rocks,  and  were  glad 
to  escape  with  their  lives  to  the  Pfalzgraf,  who  was  convinced  he  had 
no  power  over  her.  The  undine  was  never  seen  again.  Another 
legend  relates  that  at  Bacharach  dwelt  an  orphan  maiden  whose 
exquisite  beauty  gained  for  her  such  numbers  of  admirers  that  it 
became  a  great  trial  to  her,  for  she  loved  one  who  had  gone  to  Pales- 
tine to  acquire  renown  before  he  should  marry  her.  She  lived  in 
strict  retirement,  and  yet  many  duels  were  fought  concerning  her  ; 
and  so  great  was  the  love  and  jealousy  which  she  occasioned  that 
she  was  accused  of  exercising  a  magical  art.  At  length  the  case 
was  referred  to  the  Archbishop  of  Cologne,  who  went  to  see  her ; 
and  told  her  he  would  take  her  to  a  place  where  she  could  peaceably 
await  the  return  of  her  lover,  or  in  case  of  his  death  take  the  veil. 
He  ordered  three  knights  to  conduct  her,  and  give  her  every  atten- 
tion on  the  way.  When  they  were  come  to  the  Lurlei  she  ascended 
it  to  take  a  parting  look  at  the  Rhine,  and  while  there  perceived  a 
boat  coming  toward  her,  bearing  the  flag  of  her  lover,  and  in  fact 
he  was  in  it.  She  was  overcome  with  joy  and  fell  on  her  knees, 
extending  her  arms  toward  the  boat.  As  it  came  near  a  splendidly 
dressed  knight  stood  on  the  deck  waving  his  hat,  and  when  he  saw 
and  recognized  his  love  he  was  full  of  joy.  In  his  anxiety  to  reach 
her  no  one  thought  of  the  whirlpool,  and  suddenly  the  boat  was 
swallowed  up  in  it.  All  were  filled  with  horror,  and  a  pale  figure 
with  fair  hair  appeared  on  the  surface  of  the  water.  Then  the 
maiden  with  a  frightful  shriek  leaped  from  the  rock  and  sank  where 
the  body  of  her  lover  had  disappeared.  They  were  afterwards  found 
locked  in  an  embrace,  and  this  confirmed  the  belief  in  the  existence 
of  the  Nymph  of  the  Lurlei. 

The  Maiden  Leap.  Many  years  ago  there  lived  in  the  Haardt 
Mountains  a  giant  of  great  power  who  had  built  a  castle  on  one  of 
the  highest  peaks,  and  from  his  towers  could  overlook  the  whole 
country.  A  few  miles  distant  from  him  lived  a  maiden  who  had 
large  estates  and  many  servants.  She  was  very  beautiful  in  person, 
and  fond  of  the  chase  and  all  such  things  as  are  called .  manly  exer- 
cises, and  in  these  she  excelled.  She  also  managed  her  household 
with  great  skill  and  judgment,  and  could  do  herself  credit  at  the 
spinning-wheel.  Now  the  giant  loved  and  was  determined  to  possess 
this  maiden.  So  he  sent  his  servant  with  rich  jewels  to  ask  her  hand 
in  marriage.  The  servant,  who  was  a  cunning  fellow,  deemed  it  a 
pity  that  these  riches  should  be  given  the  maid,  and  she  refuse  his 
master  as  he  was  sure  she  would  do,  and  felt  that  it  was  better  for 
him  to  retain  them  for  himself  He  turned  aside  into  the  forest  to 
find  a  place  to  conceal  them,  where  he  saw  a  knight  who  was  weep- 
ing. When  the  servant  inquired  the  cause  of  his  grief  and  offered 
his  assistance,  he  told  him  of  his  love  for  the  same  maiden  to  whom 
25 


886 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


the  giant  had  sent  his  proposals,  and  that  he  dared  not  approach  her 
on  account  of  his  poverty.  Then  the  faithless  servant  told  his  errand, 
and  offered  to  divide  the  jewels  with  him  if  he  would  assist  to  con- 
ceal them.  This  the  knight  assented  to  and  they  commenced  to  dig 
a  hole.  When  this  was  done  the  servant  attempted  to  kill  the  knight, 
fearing  he  might  disclose  his  treachery.  The  knight  had  left  his 
sword  on  a  rock  while  at  work,  and  as  the  servant  had  seen  him  in 
tears,  he  took  him  for  a  coward,  but  he  realized  his  mistake  most 
perfectly,  for  he  threw  down  the  servant  and  was  about  to  kill  him, 
but  he  decided  to  take  his  part  of  the  booty  and  leave  him  alive.  He 
then  sped  toward  the  castle  of  the  maiden.  Meanwhile  the  giant 
had  become  impatient  at  the  long  absence  of  his  servant,  and  set  out 
himself  for  the  maiden's  home.  When  he  arrived  he  declared  that 
he  would  kill  her  if  she  would  not  marry  him.  She  and  her  maids 
fell  on  their  knees  beseeching  him  to  leave  them  in  peace,  but  nothing 
could  move  him  or  change  his  decision,  so  the  maiden  determined  to 
make  a  desperate  trial  for  life,  and  told  him  that  if  he  would  wed  her 
he  must  prove  himself  worthy  by  running  after  and  overtaking  her. 
To  this  he  consented,  and  she  leaped  on  her  horse.  She  rode  many 
miles  and  still  the  giant  pursued,  and  now  the  horse  was  giving  out 
and  the  giant  gaining  on  her.  Just  then  she  reached  a  fearful  chasm 
and  determined  to  risk  all  on  a  leap  over  it.  She  did  so,  and  landed 
safely  on  the  other  side.  The  giant  was  furious.  He  saw  her 
kneeling  on  the  bank.  He  ran  up  and  down  seeking  a  place  to  cross, 
and  soon  his  triumphal  shouts  announced  that  he  had  found  one. 
The  heart  of  the  maiden  grew  cold,  but  at  that  moment  the  young 
knight  came  up  and  attacked  the  giant,  who  weary  with  his  chase 
was  easily  overcome.  While  on  his  way  to  the  castle  he  had  seen 
the  pursuit  of  the  maid  and  had  followed  as  quickly  as  possible.  In 
consideration  of  the  great  service  he  had  thus  rendered  her  and  the 
wealth  he  had  acquired  he  no  longer  feared  to  tell  his  love.  He  was 
accepted,  and  in  a  few  days  the  wedding  was  celebrated  with  much 
gladness. 

Mayence.  The  Heads  of  Stone.  On  the  wall  of  Mayence,  just 
by  the  gate  called  ^'  Gauthor,"  two  heads  are  engraved.  They 
commemorate  the  following  events:  In  1462  Dethier  of  Isenburg 
was  Archbishop  of  Mayence.  The  pope  and  the  emperor  were  op- 
posed to  him  and  desired  to  give  his  office  to  Adolf  of  Nassau.  As 
Mayence  remained  faithful  to  Dethier,  Adolf  besieged  the  city,  and 
misery  and  suffering  soon  reigned  there.  One  evening  Walderer, 
the  fisherman,  sat  gloomily  in  his  cottage ;  his  wife  was  dying,  he  and 
his  child  starving.  At  length  he  declared  he  would  fight  for  Adol- 
phus  rather  than  die  for  Dethier.  His  wife  began  to  repeat  the 
"  Lord's  Prayer,"  and  at  the  end,  the  sweet  voice  of  his  daughter  Ger- 
trude said,  "  Amen."  She  tried  to  console  her  father,  but  the  spirit 
of  hopelessness  was  in  his  heart.    While  he  uttered  traitorous  senti- 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


387 


ments  and  the  others  argued  with  him  for  right  and  duty,  three  men 
entered  the  house.  One  of  them,  a  young  fisherman,  hastened  to 
Gertrude  and  her  mother,  while  the  others  conversed  with  the  father. 
Soon  he  came  to  the  daughter  with  money  and  commanded  her  to  go 
and  buy  food.  Then  the  truth  flashed  through  the  mind  of  the  dying 
wife,  and  she  knew  that  her  husband  was  about  to  betray  the  city  to 
the  enemy.  The  girl  went  out  with  the  young  man,  who  was  her 
lover,  and  her  mother  attempted,  with  all  the  impressive  solemnity 
of  one  about  to  die,  to  dissuade  Walderer  from  the  crime.  But  all 
in  vain,  and  even  while  she  talked,  she  died.  Next  day  when  the 
monk  who  had  been  her  confessor  came  to  bury  the  poor  wife,  he  too 
was  persuaded  to  assist  in  betraying  the  city  by  allowing  the  soldiers 
of  Adolf  to  pass  the  gate.  He  was  a  wicked  hypocrite,  and  had 
withal  the  most  infamous  designs  upon  the  unprotected  Gertrude. 
One  of  the  strangers  who  had  come  to  the  cottage  the  evening  pre- 
vious, had  remained,  and  the  monk  brought  him  a  habit  like  his  own, 
and  thus  disguised  they  together  walked  through  the  town.  That 
evening  their  plans  were  matured.  Walderer  was  to  be  the  watch- 
man at  the  Gauthor,  and  the  lover,  John,  was  to  conduct  the  soldiers 
there,  by  ways  known  to  few.  At  length  the  stranger  departed, 
much  to  the  joy  of  Gertrude,  for  she  feared  lest  he  should  be  discov- 
ered in  their  cottage.  When  she  was  alone  the  monk  came  to  attempt 
the  accomplishment  of  his  designs  against  her,  and  when  she  scorned 
him,  he  threatened  to  expose  the  treachery  of  her  father.  The  poor 
girl  was  in  distress,  when  John  came  to  her  rescue.  He  declared  the 
only  way  was  to  make  the  monk  a  prisoner,  and  being  the  stronger, 
and  moreover  armed,  he  soon  placed  the  priest  in  a  room  from 
whence  he  could  not  escape.  Gertrude  was  then  commanded  to 
remain  in  her  chamber.  At  night  John  led  Adolf  and  several  of  his 
soldiers  to  the  house  of  Walderer,  in  the  disguise  of  monks.  They 
swore  to  a  solemn  compact.  Gertrude  heard  the  unusual  noise  and 
then  the  departing  steps  as  her  father  led  them  to  the  Gauthor.  In- 
stantly she  knew  the  truth,  and  determined  to  save  the  city  if  possible. 
She  went  to  the  monk  and  besought  him  to  lead  her  to  Dethier,  but 
he  only  caught  her  in  his  arms  and  declared  she  should  pass  the  night 
with  him.  With  the  strength  of  despair  she  broke  away  and  rushed 
into  the  street,  crying,  To  Arms !  To  Arms !  The  enemy !  The 
enemy !  "  Thus  arousing  those  near  her  she  told  them  all  her  sus- 
picions, and  begged  them  to  hasten  to  the  Gauthor.  But  the  brave 
girl  was  too  late  to  prevent  the  entrance  of  the  enemy,  and  soon  a 
desperate  struggle  was  going  on  all  over  the  city.  The  women  fought 
as  fiercely  as  the  men,  and  Gertrude  fell  pierced  by  an  enemy's  lance 
at  the  feet  of  her  father.  Adolphus  was  victorious,  and  his  punish- 
ment of  those  he  had  conquered  was  fearfully  cruel.  But  that  of 
Walderer  and  John  was  sent  by  a  higher  power.  The  father  went 
mad,  and  the  lover  threw  himself  into  the  river  with  the  corpse  of 


388 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


the  noble  Gertrude.  The  heads  were  carved  on  the  wall  to  commem- 
orate the  bravery  of  the  maiden,  and  the  treachery  and  punishment 
of  her  lover. 

Arnold  of  Walpode.  In  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century 
there  was  a  tournament  at  Mainz,  and  nothing  was  left  undone  to  make 
it  as  magnificent  as  possible.  The  beautiful  Anne  of  Walpode  was 
selected  to  confer  the  prize,  and  when  the  victor,  a  noble  and  hand- 
some youth,  knelt  before  her,  an  unspeakable  happiness  lighted  both 
their  faces,  and  he  tenderly  kissed  the  reward  she  blushingly  con- 
ferred upon  him.  Then  her  father,  the  brave  Arnold,  led  the  young 
man  to  the  archbishop,  who  received  him  with  kindness,  and  de- 
clared him  his  chamberlain,  saying,  Now  salute  your  betrothed,  for 
you  have  gained  a  right  to  her  hand.  Is  it  not  so  ?  "  asked  he  of 
Arnold.  The  old  knight  smiled,  and  commanded  the  young  Sir  John 
to  meet  him  at  his  castle,  and  dine  with  him  that  day.  Now  it 
happened  that  Dethier  of  Katzenelnbogen,  had  been  present  at  the 
tourney  and  had  seen  and  admired  the  lovely  Anne.  He  coveted 
her  fortune  also,  for  his  own  had  been  lessened  by  the  building  of 
Castle  Hheinfels.  He  so  presumed  on  his  rank  and  power  that  he 
doubted  not  his  acceptance.  But  Arnold  declared  that  his  child 
should  not  wed  a  Gaugraf,  who  levied  taxes  on  citizens  and  mer- 
chants ;  for  Dethier  had  rebuilt  Kheinfels  in  order  to  exact  customs 
from  all  who  passed  on  the  river.  The  count  was  full  of  anger,  and 
left  Arnold  declaring,  "  You  appreciate  my  castle  rightly ;  it  shall  be 
a  stumbling-block  to  bring  your  proud  citizens  to  ruin !  Most  noble 
knight ! "  said  Walpode,  do  not  forget  that  Schwarz  has  discovered 
powder,  and  the  strongholds  of  robbers  can  be  destroyed  by  it !  " 
For  a  long  time  Arnold  had  striven  to  persuade  the  towns  to  make  a 
confederation  to  oppose  those  counts  and  barons  who  from  their  cas- 
tles, demanded  customs  and  oppressed  all  who  came  in  their  way. 
Now  he  gave  his  entire  energies  to  this  purpose,  but  although  many 
approved  his  theory,  they  were  slow  to  action.  Meanwhile  the  lovers 
were  happy ;  the  wedding-day  was  fixed,  and  guests  were  invited 
from  great  distances,  for  Arnold  hoped  to  make  it  an  occasion  to  per- 
suade his  friends  to  arouse  themselves  to  the  forming  of  the  confed- 
eration. The  news  of  the  preparations  reached  Count  Dethier,  and  he 
cursed  himself  that  he  had  not  been  able  to  be  revenged  upon  the 
noble  knight  of  Mainz.  While  thinking  of  this  a  horn  sounded,  and 
he  was  told  that  a  troop  of  armed  men  approached.  He  hastened  to 
put  himself  at  the  head  of  his  retainers  and  proceed  to  ascertain 
who  they  might  be.  It  proved  a  train  of  the  noblest  and  wealthiest 
families  of  Cologne,  Bacharach,  and  St.  Goar,  on  their  journey  to  the 
wedding  at  Mainz.  When  Dethier  learned  this  he  determined  to 
make  them  prisoners,  and  though  they  would  have  fought,  being  much 
embarrassed  by  the  presence  of  ladies,  they  were  soon  led  into  the 
castle.    They  were  expected  at  Mainz  with  impatience  and  surprise, 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


389 


wlii(ili  were  not  lessened  when  the  truth  was  known.  Then  Arnold 
of  Walpode  felt  that  the  time  had  indeed  come  for  the  maturity  of 
his  scheme.  He  addressed  the  citizens  with  such  power,  and  so 
depicted  the  abuses  from  which  travellers  and  merchants  suffered, 
adding  a  vivid  picture  of  the  way  in  which  these  prisoners,  their 
friends,  the  first  and  best  in  the  land,  were  even  then  suffering,  that 
all  were  at  last  aroused ;  a  league  was  made  and  money  raised ;  and 
all  swore  that  an  end  should  come  to  the  power  of  such  robber 
knights  as  Dethier  of  Rheinfels.  The  third  day  his  castle  was  at- 
tacked, and  the  prisoners  rescued.  Then  was  the  marriage  celebrated 
with  great  joy.  and  after-events  proved  that  the  noble  Arnold  had 
not  overrated  the  value  and  importance  of  the  confederation. 

Count  Henry  of  Meissen  was  a  Minnesanger  of  the  fourteenth 
century.  Many  of  his  songs  were  in  honor  of  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
and  all  of  them  so  filled  with  the  praise  of  woman,  that  he  acquired 
the  title  of  "  Frauenlob  "  (woman's  praise),  by  which  he  is  still  known 
in  German  literature.  He  died  in  1317,  and  received  such  a  burial 
as  no  other  ever  had,  before  or  since  his  time.  The  ladies  of  May- 
ence  assembled  in  mourning,  the  cathedral  bells  and  those  of  all  the 
churches  tolled  from  the  break  of  day ;  eight  ladies  of  the  highest 
rank  bore  the  coffin,  covered  with  myrtle  and  flowers,  and  followed 
by  a  long  train  of  women  whose  songs  mingled  with  the  music  of  the 
bells.  The  cathedral  was  splendidly  decorated,  and  the  archbishop 
pronounced  the  benediction.  The  coffin  was  lowered  to  the  tomb  in 
the  midst  of  sobs  and  tears,  while  the  young  maidens  strewed  it  with 
roses  and  poured  into  the  tomb  the  most  delicious  wines,  from  golden 
cups.  Then  a  song  which  Frauenlob  had  Written  was  sung  and 
followed  by  a  high  mass,  after  which  the  maidens  intoned  a  hymn, 
expressing  the  hope  of  immortality.  A  monument  was  erected  to 
him  in  the  cathedral,  and  again  in  1842  a  beautiful  one  by  Schwan- 
thaler  was  placed  there  by  the  ladies  of  Mayence,  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  the  poet.  It  represents  a  female  figure  decorating  a  coffin 
with  a  wreath,  and  is  on  the  south  wall  of  the  cathedral. 

Rahhi  Amram  was  a  Jew  of  Mayence,  who  founded  a  school 
in  Cologne,  where  he  died.  He  expressed  a  wish  to  be  buried  near 
his  parents  in  Mayence,  and  being  told  that  the  bigotry  of  that  city 
would  render  it  impossible,  he  commanded  that  after  death  his  body 
should  be  placed  in  a  small  boat  on  the  Rhine,  and  allowed  to  go 
where  it  would.  This  was  done,  and  the  boat  went  directly  to  May- 
ence. The  whole  population  came  out  to  see  the  strange  sight,  but 
when  the  truth  was  known,  the  Christians  would  not  allow  the  wishes 
of  Rabbi  Amram  to  be  fulfilled.  The  bishop  commanded  that  the 
coffin  should  remain  where  it  was,  and  a  crypt  be  built  over  it. 
Many  believe  that  from  this  arose  St.  Emeran's  Church.  But  the 
Jewish  students  stole  the  body  at  night,  leaving  the  coffin,  and  gave 
the  Rabbi  the  burial  he  so  much  desired.    There  was  a  fresco,  repre- 


390 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


senting  the  drifting  of  the  strange  ship,  upon  a  house  in  Mayence, 
which  remained  until  1850. 

Marriage  of  Ghosts  at  Castle  Lauf.    See  Baden-Baden. 

Mousetower.    (Mausethurm.)    See  Bingen. 

Mummelsee.    See  Baden-Baden. 

Niedeck  Castle.  The  living  Toy.  Many  years  ago,  Bhine- 
land  was  the  home  of  numerous  giants  who  were  good-natured,  and 
never  employed  their  vast  strength  for  the  injury  of  men.  Such  an 
one  lived  at  Castle  Niedeck.  One  day  his  little  daughter  went  for  a 
walk,  and  as  she  strolled  along,  she  saw  a  husbandman  with  a  horse 
and  plough.  She  had  never  seen  one  before,  and  she  clapped  her 
hands  with  joy,  so  that  the  mountains  echoed.  "  What  a  fine  toy  !" 
said  she,  "  and  living  too  !  So  much  better  than  my  dolls,  which  are 
but  leather,  and  cannot  move."  And  she  hastened  to  snatch  up 
horse,  plough,  and  husbandman,  and  returned  to  her  father  with  them 
all  in  her  apron.  She  put  them  down  on  the  table  before  him  with 
great  exultation  and  danced  about  in  glee.  Then  her  father  ex- 
plained to  her  that  she  had  interrupted  most  important  labor.  That 
the  husbandmen  who  tilled  the  fields  and  supplied  food  for  men  should 
ever  be  respected,  and  commanded  her  to  return  the  toy  she  so  ad- 
mired to  the  field  from  which  she  had  taken  it. 

Oberwesel.  The  Seven  Virgins.  Above  Oberwesel  rise  the 
picturesque  ruins  of  Castle  Schonburg.  This  was  the  birth-place  of 
the  famous  Marshal  Schomberg  who  fought  under  the  Prince  of 
Orange  and  compelled  the  Spaniards  to  acknowledge  the  House  of 
Braganza.  After  being  high  in  office  in  Prussia  he  went  to  England 
and  perished  in  the  battle  of  the  Boyne.  He  is  buried  in  Westmin- 
ster Abbey.  In  this  same  castle  once  resided  a  knight  who  was  so 
devoted  to  his  wife  that  when  she  died  nothing  could  interest  him 
or  arouse  him  from  his  grief  She  had  left  seven  daughters  ;  they 
grew  up  with  little  or  no  training,  and  when  their  father  died  they 
lived  a  life  of  coquetry  and  folly.  They  were  all  beautiful,  and  as 
they  possessed  vast  estates  many  suitors  flocked  to  their  castle. 
Here  they  were  hospitably  entertained,  and  gayety  reigned  trium- 
phant in  their  halls,  but  no  sooner  did  a  suitor  speak  with  earnest- 
ness than  he  was  dismissed  with  laughing  raillery.  At  last  at  a 
banquet  two  knights  fell  into  a  dispute  concerning  the  sisters  which 
ended  in  a  challenge  for  a  duel,  and  all  the  young  men  present 
declared  that  it  was  time  to  end  this  folly,  and  demand  of  the  sisters 
an  explanation  of  their  flirting  and  fickleness.  So  a  request  was 
sent  to  them  to  meet  the  knights  next  day  and  make  a  choice  for 
marriage.  They  consented  to  the  gathering,  and  a  vast  number 
went  to  the  state-saloon  where  they  thought  to  find  the  sisters  ;  but 
a  servant  announced  that  they  desired  them  to  repair  to  an  arbor  on 
the  Bhine.  When  the  young  men  reached  the  spot  the  seven  vir- 
gins were  in  a  boat  and  at  some  distance  from  the  shore.    One  of 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


391 


them  stood  in  the  stern  and  told  the  knights  that  they  had  never 
intended  to  marry ;  that  they  loved  liberty  too  well  to  be  the  slaves 
of  any,  and  that  as  this  decision  had  been  forced  on  them  they  had 
decided  to  leave  their  castle  for  a  long  time  and  go  to  an  aunt  in 
the  Netherlands,  where  they  would  play  the  same  comedy  with  the 
knights  of  that  country  that  they  had  so  enjoyed  here.  This  speech 
was  hailed  with  laughter  by  the  sisters,  and  the  boat  moved  off. 
But  suddenly  a  storm  arose,  and  even  in  sight  of  the  suitors  the 
boat  was  upset  and  all  were  drowned.  On  the  spot  where  this 
occurred  seven  rocks  appeared  above  the  water.  They  are  a  terror 
to  navigators,  and  are  called  the     Seven  Virgins,"  to  this  day. 

Oggersheim.  Hans  Warscli^  the  valiaM  Shepherd,  During 
the  Thirty  Years'  War,  the  Spanish  troops  approached  Oggers- 
heim. All  the  citizens  lied  save  a  poor  shepherd,  Hans  Warsch, 
He  would  not  leave  his  wife  who  was  very  ill,  having  just  given 
birth  to  a  child.  When  Hans  found  himself  alone,  he  closed  the 
gates  of  the  town,  according  to  the  usages  of  war,  and  placed  him- 
self on  the  watch-tower  with  a  trumpet,  ready  to  answer  the  sum- 
mons of  the  enemy.  When  the  Spanish  trumpeter  demanded  the 
surrender  of  the  town,  Hans  replied  that  this  should  be  done  on 
condition  that  the  commander  would  insure  the  citizens  the  protec- 
tion of  their  property.  If  this  was  not  granted  they  were  deter- 
mined to  defend  themselves  to  the  last  man !  The  Spanish  com- 
mandant gave  his  word  of  honor  that  the  condition  should  be 
observed,  and  Hans  hastened  to  open  the  gates.  When  the  warriors 
entered  the  town  they  were  surprised  to  see  no  one  in  the  streets, 
and  more  so  when  they  became  aware  that  the  poor  shepherd  with 
his  sick  wife  and  wee  baby  were  the  only  persons  left  in  all  the 
town.  The  commandant  admired  the  brave  shepherd,  kept  his 
promise,  and  stood  godfather  to  his  child,  whose  christening  was 
kept  with  joy. 

Oppenheim.  The  ruined  Castle  of  Landskron  is  all  that  here 
remains  of  the  imperial  fortress,  once  so  famous.  In  the  church- 
yard of  the  town  are  the  remains  of  many  Spaniards  and  Swedes 
who  fell  during  the  Thirty  Years'  War.  One  evening,  not  long  before 
the  commencement  of  the  Seven  Years'  War,  in  1756,  a  young  artist 
entered  Oppenheim,  and  proceeded  to  an  inn,  at  the  door  of  which 
stood  the  daughter  of  the  landlord,  a  beautiful  girl.  The  young  man 
was  not  long  in  becoming  very  friendly  with  the  maiden.  When 
she  learned  that  he  was  an  artist,  and  making  pictures  of  Rhineland, 
she  begged  him  to  paint  one  of  her  "  dear  Oppenheim,"  and  told 
him  how  beautiful  it  was  when  seen  from  the  castle  by  moonlight. 
He  promised  to  go  that  very  night  to  select  the  spot  from  which 
his  picture  should  be  made.  He  kept  his  word,  and  as  he  walked 
past  the  church-yard  was  occupied  with  thoughts  of  the  decay  of 
pomp  and  power,  and  exclaimed,  "  All  vanishes  save  Glory  !  and 


392 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


happy  he  alone  who  succeeds  in  gaining  that/'  Just  then  his  foot 
knocked  against  a  skull  and  sent  it  whirling  along  before  him. 
Soon  the  clock  sounded  the  hoar  of  midnight,  and  instantly  he 
heard  a  strange  noise  through  all  the  church-yard.  The  bones 
began  to  unite  and  form  skeletons,  and  these  to  form  in  line  of  bat- 
tle —  Spaniards  with  Spaniards,  and  Swedes  with  Swedes,  while 
commands  were  given  in  an  unearthly  voice.  They  fought  furiously 
and  more  furiously,  until  the  scene  was  most  frightful.  At  length  one 
was  thrown  down  at  the  feet  of  the  artist,  and  when  he  looked  at  the 
hollow  cavities  where  once  eyes  had  been,  a  strange  light  seemed  to 
shine  in  them,  and  a  voice  said,  "  Mortal,  you  have  seen  our  dread- 
ful contest !  Tell  to  all  how  we  still  suffer  and  are  forced  thus  to 
contend,  because  in  life  we  were  enemies  instead  of  loving  each 
other."  As  this  was  said  the  clock  struck  one,  and  the  bones  were 
again  scattered  about  the  church-yard  as  at  first.  Then  the  artist 
hastened  to  the  inn,  full  of  fear  and  excitement,  and  told  his  strange 
adventure.  The  people  of  Oppenheim  afterwards  regarded  it  as  a 
forerunner  of  the  war  which  soon  broke  out.  The  artist,  though  he 
gained  not  the  glory  he  so  earnestly  apostrophized,  married  the 
innkeeper's  daughter,  and  to  the  end  of  his  days  was  called  on  to 
tell  his  story  to  every  stranger  wdio  visited  Oppenheim. 

Pfalzgrafenstein.  In  1194  the  Emperor  Henry  YI.  wished  to 
marry  the  daughter  of  the  Count  Pcvlatine  Conrad  to  some  member 
of  his  own  family.  The  count  had  great  wealth  and  no  sons,  and 
Henry  desired  to  secure  these  riches  to  some  near  relative.  But 
the  princess  was  deeply  in  love  with  Henry  of  Brunswick.  Her 
father,  dreading  the  anger  of  the  emperor,  would  not  hear  of  the 
alliance,  and  sent  her  to  be  kept  a  close  prisoner  in  the  Pfalzgrafen- 
stein, which  rises  from  the  Rhine  like  an  immense  stone  ship,  for- 
ever at  anchor."  It  is  situated  a  little  below  Bacharach  and  not 
far  from  Caub.  Now  the  wife  of  Count  Conrad  sympathized  with 
her  daughter,  and  did  not  admit  the  right  of  the  emperor  to  select 
a  husband  for  her.  So  she  sent  for  Brunswick,  who  came  in  dis- 
guise, and  the  marriage  being  solemnized  in  secret,  the  young 
couple  enjoyed  a  quiet  and  blissful  honeymoon.  The  mother  at 
length  told  her  husband  what  she  had  done,  and  so  tenderly  pleaded 
for  her  daughter,  who  was  about  to  become  a  mother,  that  she  over- 
came his  anger  at  being  thus  outwitted.  He  in  his  turn  told  the 
emperor,  who  then  commanded  the  marriage  to  be  celebrated  with 
great  festivities.  Count  Conrad  passed  sentence  upon  the  young 
couple  that  they  should  remain  at  the  Pfa'Zgrafenstein  until  the 
princess  bore  a  son  ;  and  tradition  relates  that  hence  came  a  law  that 
all  future  Countesses  Palatine  should  go  to  this  castle  to  await  their 
accouchements,  and  from  this  it  derives  its  name  of  Pfalzgrafin-stein. 

Philippsburg.  The  Brave  Recruit.  When  this  place  was  be- 
sieged by  the  French,  a  storm  attack  was  ordered  on  a  lonely  and 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


393 


apparently  undefended  portion  of  the  works,  and  twelve  grenadiers 
selected  to  make  it.  Now  it  happened  that  a  recruit  had  been 
made  sentinel  on  this  spot  where  no  attack  was  anticipated.  He 
was  watchful,  however,  and  stood  with  his  halberd  ready  for  defense. 
Suddenly  the  face  of  a  mustachioed  grenadier  appeared  above  the 
parapet,  and  the  owner  of  it  was  about  to  set  his  foot  upon  the  wall, 
^'  Ho,  ho  !  I  will  show  you  the  way  !  "  called  out  the  recruit,  and 
gave  him  a  push  which  sent  him  from  the  storming  ladder.  But 
scarce  a  minute  had  elapsed,  when  the  same  face  (as  the  recruit 
thought)  appeared  again,  and  again  was  pushed  away.  This  was 
repeated  to  the  twelfth  time,  and  the  raw  soldier  thought  he  had 
never  seen  such  persevering  determination  as  that  of  the  inimical 
grenadier.  When  the  guard  was  changed,  the  sergeant  asked  the 
recruit  if  anything  had  occurred  there,  and  he  answered,  nothing 
save  that  a  grenadier  had  been  determined  to  come  upon  the  wall, 
and  he  had  pushed  him  back,  but  he  always  returned  until  he  had 
thrown  him  down  twelve  times.  The  sergeant  went  to  see  what  this 
could  mean,  and  found  the  bodies  of  the  twelve  grenadiers  in  the 
trench  where  the  recruit  had  thrown  them,  and  the  storming  ladder 
still  hanging  on  the  wall.  When  the  commandent  knew  this,  the 
recruit  was  handsomely  rewarded. 

Pulpits  of  the  Devil  and  the  Angel.   See  Baden-Baden. 

Rheinfels.    See  Mayence.    Arnold  of  Walpode. 

E-heinstein,  The  Ride  to  the  Wedding.  In  the  early  part  of 
the  thirteenth  century  this  castle  was  inhabited  by  a  very  wealthy 
knight  named  Siegfried,  who  was  noted  for  his  robberies  and  wick- 
edness. Keturning  from  one  of  bis  expeditions  he  brought  much 
booty  and  a  beautiful  woman  named  Jutta,  whom  he  had  taken  in 
Frankenland.  The  knight  soon  yielded  himself  to  her  charms  and 
married  her.  From  this  time  the  life  at  Bhein stein  was  changed  in 
all  its  aspects  :  merchants  who  passed  on  land  or  sea  were  undis- 
turbed ;  Siegfried  went  on  no  more  expeditions,  and  his  wild  and 
rough  comrades  ceased  to  visit  \\  m.  But,  alas,  this  quiet  happiness 
was  of  short  duration,  for  Jutta  died  in  giving  birth  to  a  daughter. 
Then  the  knight  thought  only  of  this  child  and  gave  his  life  to  her 
care  and  education.  She  was  called  Gerda,  and  inherited  the 
character  and  beauty  of  her  lovely  mother.  Though  Siegfried  en- 
tertained no  guests,  the  pilgrims  and  travellers  who  received  the  hos- 
pitalities of  the  castle  carried  abroad  the  report  of  her  beauty,  and 
this  as  well  as  the  riches  of  the  knight,  attracted  many  suitors.  At 
length  in  order  to  free  himself  from  their  importunities  the  old  knight 
promised  to  meet  them  all  at  a  tournament  at  Mayence,  and  declared 
that  the  victor  should  be  the  husband  of  Gerda.  Never  had  a  larger 
number  striven  in  any  tourney.  Now  among  those  who  contended 
were  Kurt  of  Ehrenfels,  which  castle  is  not  lar  above  Rheinstein, 
and  Kuno  of  Reichenstein,  which  last  fortress  is  near  to  Rheinstein, 


394 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


the  Church  of  St.  Clement  being  between  them.  The  last-named 
knight  was  beloved  by  Gerda,  and  when  he  had  conquered  all  in 
the  list  save  Kurt  of  Ehrenfels  her  hopes  rose  high.  But  Kurt,  who 
on  account  of  his  riches  was  her  fathers  favorite,  was  more  skillful 
than  they  all,  and  was  declared  the  winner  of  the  prize.  The  wed- 
ding day  was  then  appointed,  and  though  Gerda  attempted  to  move 
her  father  by  prayers  and  tears,  he  would  not  listen  to  her.  The 
fatal  day  having  come,  she  was  decked  in  her  bridal  attire,  than 
which  nothing  could  have  been  more  magnificent.  But  when  all 
was  ready,  Gerda  knelt  before  the  Virgin  in  the  castle  chapel  and 
begged  earnestly  of  Our  Lady  to  provide  some  way  of  escape  for 
her.  Kurt  was  so  impatient  of  waiting  that  he  even  interrupted 
her  devotions  to  ask  that  she  should  hasten  to  join  the  marriage  pro- 
cession. She  arose  from  her  prayers  with  a  feeling  of  confidence 
and  requested  the  knight  that  her  white  palfrey,  which  was  a  gift 
from  Kuno  of  Reichenstein,  might  be  saddled  for  her  to  ride  to  the 
church.  It  was  done,  and  the  long  and  brilliant  cortege  at  length 
began  to  move.  Kuno  sat  in  a  tower  of  his  fortress,  watching  all 
this  with  breaking  heart.  The  procession  had  nearly  reached  the 
Clemenskirche,  when,  look,  the  horse  of  Gerda  becomes  unmanage- 
able ;  it  breaks  away  from  those  who  hold  it  and  dashes  with 
lightning  speed  toward  Reichenstein  !  Scarcely  had  Kuno  time  to 
lower  the  draw,  when  she  had  reached  it,  and  was  soon  in  the 
court  and  in  his  arms.  He  then  barred  all  entrance  and  refused  to 
open  to  her  pursuers.  But  Heaven  freed  them  from  their  troubles, 
for  Kurt,  maddened  at  seeing  Gerda  fleeing  to  Kuno,  was  so  rash 
in  his  pursuit  that  he  fell  and  broke  his  neck.  Siegfried  now 
gladly  consented  to  the  union  which  was  so  plainly  according  to  the 
will  of  God  and  the  Blessed  Virgin.  Kuno,  too,  was  the  heir  of 
Kurt,  and  his  great  wealth  was  after  all  united  to  that  of  Gerda. 

Clemenskirche.  There  is  an  interesting  legend  connected  with 
the  foundation  of  this  church.  The  beautiful  Ina  was  an  orphan  of 
great  wealth  who  lived  in  the  Sauerthal.  The  knight  who  then  in- 
habited Rheinstein  was  a  brave,  resolute  fellow,  and  little  given  to 
love-making.  He  was  resolved  to  have  Ina  for  his  bride,  and  as  she 
had  refused  his  olfer,  he  marched  to  her  home  with  his  men,  deter- 
mined to  seize  her  forcibly.  They  succeeded  in  taking  the  castle, 
and  carried  the  maiden  to  a  boat  which  waited  for  them  on  the 
Rhine.  A  furious  thunder-storm  now  came  on,  and  in  spite  of  all 
their  efforts  they  were  driven  on  the  rocks.  At  this  time  Ina  re- 
covered her  senses,  and  kneeling  down  to  pray,  she  vowed  to  build  a 
church  to  St.  Clement,  if  he  would  save  her  from  death  and  the  rob- 
bers. Just  at  this  moment  there  was  a  crash,  and  she  closed  her 
eyes,  to  avoid  the  sight  of  the  drowning  men  and  the  fearful  waves. 
Soon  she  felt  herself  borne  through  the  air,  and  when  she  opened 
her  eyes  they  rested  on  such  a  blaze  of  light  as  she  had  never  seen. 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


395 


Wlien  she  became  accustomed  to  it,  she  found  herself  in  the  arms  of 
the  saint,  who  bore  her  safely  to  the  shore,  and  gently  laid  her  on  the 
bank.  The  knight  and  his  men  had  all  perished.  She  hastened  to 
fulfill  her  vow  and  built  the  church,  and  when  it  was  done  she  stood 
before  its  altar,  the  happy  bride  of  the  knight  she  loved. 

Rhense.  Toward  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century  the  Bohe- 
mian emperor  Wenzel  ascended  the  imperial  throne  of  Germany. 
His  temperament  did  not  fit  him  for  the  cares  of  royalty ;  he  much 
preferred  to  pass  his  time  with  agreeable  friends  at  the  Konigstuhl, 
drinking  Rhine  wine  and  listening  to  jest  and  song.  The  Count 
Palatine,  Rupert  III.,  had  long  coveted  the  imperial  crown,  and  lost 
no  opportunity  of  showing  Wenzel  all  the  troubles  and  cares  of  the 
empire,  and  exaggerated  them,  hoping  that  he  would  cede  his  crown 
to  him.  One  evening  as  they  sat  together  with  other  jovial  com- 
panions drinking  their  delicious  Assmannshausen  wine,  Wenzel  thus 
addressed  Rupert :  "  You  have  long  aspired  to  my  crown ;  give  us 
now  a  wine  which  we  ^hall  find  more  delicious  than  this,  and  it  shall 
be  yours.'*  Rupert  gave  his  orders,  and  a  barrel  was  soon  rolled  in 
from  which  their  cups  were  filled.  He  begged  them  to  give  their 
opinion  freely,  saying  that  it  was  Bacharach  wine.  The  company 
declared  it  superior  to  Assmannshausen,  and  they  sat  later  than  usual 
at  the  Konigstuhl,  and  drank  deeply  of  this  delicious  wine.  Wen- 
zel kept  his  word,  and  the  crown  was  ceded  to  Rupert,  who  sent 
his  accommodating  predecessor  four  wagon-loads  of  Bacharach  wine. 
Thus  runs  the  popular  legend,  but  history  declares  that  the  Rhenish 
Electors,  on  the  20th  of  August  1400,  deprived  Wenzel  of  the  crown 
at  a  little  chapel  which  is  seen  at  the  south  gate  of  Oberlahnstein, 
and  crossed  next  day  to  the  Konigstuhl  and  elected  Rupert  in  his 
stead,  and  that  the  town  of  Niirnberg  obtained  its  freedom  by  a 
yearly  tribute  to  Wenzel  of  four  tuns  of  Bacharach  wine. 

Rocks,  The.    See  Baden-Baden. 

Rolandseck.  The  beautiful  legend  connected  with  this  castle  is 
believed  to  have  suo-o-ested  the  "  Ritter  Too'o-enburo; "  to  Schiller. 
The  young  knight  Roland,  the  supposed  nephew  of  Charlemagne  and 
peer  of  France,  had  won  great  renown  by  his  valorous  deeds.  Riding 
one  day  on  the  banks  of  the  Rliine,  he  came  to  the  Castle  of  Drach- 
enfels,  where  Count  Heribert,  the  lord  of  the  Siebengebirge,  resided. 
When  he  announced  his  name  Roland  was  received  with  great  honor, 
and  the  count  introduced  him  to  his  daughter  Hildegunde,  who  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of  welcome,  offered  him  bread,  wine,  and 
fish.  The  heart  of  Roland,  until  now  unmoved  by  beauty  or  wit, 
was  immediately  surrendered  to  Hildegunde,  and  soon  they  were  be- 
trothed :  but  their  happiness  was  interrupted  by  a  summons  from 
Charlemagne,  desiring  Roland  to  join  the  Crusade.  Time  passed, 
and  news  came  of  the  fierce  battle  of  Roncesvalles,  and  also  that 
Roland  had  fallen  by  the  hand  of  the  Infidels.    Hildegunde  was  in- 


396 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


consolable,  and  begged  her  father  to  allow  her  to  enter  the  cloister  at 
Nonnenwerth,  which  was  an  island  within  view  of  his  castle.  He 
consented,  and  each  morning  the  count  and  his  wife  looked  down  to 
the  convent,  from  which  Hildegunde  waved  her  hand  to  them  as  she 
passed  on  to  the  chapel.  Now  the  rumor  of  the  death  of  Eoland 
was  untrue  ;  he  had  indeed  been  severely  wounded,  but  recovered, 
and  one  day  presented  himself  at  Drachenburg  to  claim  his  lovely 
Hildegunde.  His  sorrow  when  the  truth  was  told  was  uncontrollable. 
In  despair  he  built  the  Castle  of  Rolandseck  that  he  might  be  near 
her  and  sometimes  see  her  loved  form  as  she  passed  to  the  chapel. 
One  morning  he  missed  her  from  among  the  nuns,  and  the  tolling  of 
the  Kloster  bell  told  him  only  too  plainly  that  for  her  suffering  was 
ended.  From  that  day  Roland  never  spoke  again.  He  sat  much  of 
the  time  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  convent,  and  thus  was  he  found 
dead.  Only  a  single  arch  of  the  castle  is  to  be  seen,  but  the  moun- 
tain on  which  it  was  built  is  still  called  Rolandseck. 

Riidesheim.  The  Maiden  Gisela.  When  Bernard  of  Clair- 
vaux  preached  the  crusade  on  the  Rhine,  the  knight  Bromser  of 
Riidesheim  determined  to  go  to  fight  for  the  recovery  of  the  Holy 
Sepulchre.  He  was  a  widower  with  an  only  child,  the  maiden  Gis- 
ela. She  bade  her  father  farewell  with  much  sorrow.  Knight 
Bromser  won  great  renown  by  his  bravery.  He  killed  a  terrible 
dragon  who  lived  near  the  source  of  the  spring  which  supplied  the 
army  with  water,  and  poisoned  it,  so  that  the  soldiers  suffered  much. 
But  so  dreadful  was  the  monster  that  none  save  the  valiant  Bromser 
dared  attack  him.  As  he  returned  to  the  camp  he  was  seized  by 
the  Saracens  and  made  prisoner.  He  was  given  to  an  emir  and 
kept  a  captive  for  many  years.  He  earnestly  longed  for  freedom, 
and  made  a  vow  that  if  he  could  but  return  to  his  home,  he  would 
build  a  convent,  and  Gisela  should  be  the  first  to  enter  it.  At  last 
deliverance  came,  and  Gisela  welcomed  her  father  with  rapture ;  but 
when  he  told  her  of  his  vow,  her  distress  was  most  pitiable.  She 
told  him  that  during  his  absence  she  had  been  betrothed,  and  begged 
him  not  to  insist  upon  the  fulfillment  of  his  vow  at  the  expense  of 
hers.  But  he  was  inexorable,  and  the  grief  of  Gisela  soon  deprived 
her  of  reason.  One  dark  and  stormy  night,  she  threw  herself  into 
the  Rhine,  and  was  lost  to  father,  lover,  and  convent.  According  to 
tradition  she  still  hovers  about  the  ruined  tower  of  her  home. 
Knight  Bromser  built  the  convent,  and  tried  by  every  means  in  his 
power  to  divert  his  mind,  but  his  whole  life  was  wretched.  One  day 
his  husbandmen,  when  ploughing,  turned  up  in  the  furrow  an  image 
of  the  Virgin,  which  cried  out  for  help.  The  knight  regarded  this  as 
a  sign  from  heaven,  and  built  a  chapel  where  it  was  found,  and  placed 
the  Virgin  in  it.  It  was  soon  said  to  work  miracles,  and  pilgrims 
flocked  to  the  chapel.  The  knight  called  the  church  Noth  Gottes  " 
(God's  need),  and  he  died  soon  after  its  completion. 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


397 


Sehonberg.    See  Oberwesel. 

Schwanau.  In  the  fourteenth  century,  the  affairs  of  Germany 
were  at  a  strange  pass.  The  robber  knights  who  inhabited  feudal 
castles  were  able  to  pounce  upon  merchants  and  travellers  and  do 
them  great  injury.  And  so  powerful  were  they  that  the  towns  were 
obliged  to  make  confederations,  in  order  to  defend  themselves  against 
single  knights.  In  these  days  Walter  of  Schwanau  had  a  feud  with 
the  citizens  of  Strasbourg.  He  intended  to  attack  the  town,  and  felt 
sure  of  a  safe  retreat  in  his  castle  should  not  all  go  well.  But  on 
this  occasion  the  citizens  determined  to  make  the  attack  themselves, 
whichiwas  contrary  to  their  usual  custom  ;  and  without  ever  dreaming 
of  such  a  thing.  Knight  Walter  found  himself  besieged.  At  last 
when  his  provisions  failed  he  sent  messengers  to  the  enemy,  but  as 
he  had  at  first  received  their  propositions  with  scorn  and  contempt, 
so  now  they  thought  fit  to  refuse  to  listen  to  his  proposals.  Then 
was  he  in  despair.  At  this  juncture,  his  lovely  wife  insisted  that 
he  should  tell  her  all  the  causes  of  the  grief  which  she  saw  so  plainly 
written  on  his  face.  At  first  he  refused  to  do  so,  but  at  length 
yielded  to  her  entreaties.  Then  she  declared  that  she  would  go  to 
the  camp  of  the  besiegers.  The  commandant  could  not  refuse  to 
see  a  woman.  Her  husband  strongly  opposed  this^  but  she  as- 
sured him  that  she  would  preserve  his  honor  unimpeached ;  and  at 
length  he  consented.  She  then  took  her  little  son,  and  having 
prayed  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  she  went  to  the  camp.  She  was 
taken  to  the  commander,  and  he  could  not  long  remain  insensible  to 
the  eloquent  words  which  she  spoke.  At  length  they  agreed  that 
the  castle  should  be  given  up,  and  she  should  pass  out  with  all  her 
treasures,  free  to  go  where  she  willed.  "  Then,"  replied  the  noble 
wife,  "  take  the  castle.  My  husband  is  saved,  for  he  and  my  child 
are  my  first  and  greatest  treasures.  All  else  I  willingly  leave  to 
you.  I  know  that  my  husband  has  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the 
citizens  of  Strasbourg,  and  they  desire  to  possess  him  in  order  to 
punish  him ;  but  since  he  is  to  go  free  by  your  promise,  you  will  not 
revenge  yourselves  on  his  soldiers  wdio  have  but  obeyed  his  will." 
The  commander  turned  away  to  hide  his  tears.  But  he  kept  his 
word.  The  wife  went  forth  with  her  husband  and  child  as  well  as 
their  other  treasures,  and  most  of  the  soldiers  joined  the  forces  of 
the  confederate  towns,  but  the  castle  was  destroyed. 

Seekenheim.  Frederick  the  Victorious.  When  the  Elector 
Louis  IV.  died,  his  son,  not  one  year  old,  was  left  the  heir  to  the 
Palatinate.  A  powerful  regent  was  necessary,  for  the  affairs  of  the 
government  were  much  disturbed  by  the  lawlessness  of  the  robber 
knights  who  attacked  all  who  passed  their  castles,  taking  their 
money  and  making  them  prisoners.  The  choice  fell  upon  Frederick, 
the  uncle  of  the  little  prince.  This  choice  was  not  pleasing  to 
the  emperor,  and  Frederick  had  other  enemies,  who  from  jealousy 


398 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


and  other  motives  made  an  alliance  against  liim.  At  length  a  deci- 
sive battle  took  place  near  Seckenheim,  where  the  regent  was  victo- 
rious and  took  many  prisoners,  among  whom  were  the  Bishop  of  Metz 
and  the  Earl  of  Wiirtemburg,  with  many  other  nobles.  Frederick 
made  a  triumphant  entrance  into  Heidelberg  with  his  prisoners  and 
his  victorious  army,  but  he  treated  the  former  with  kindness  and 
consideration,  and  that  same  evening  invited  them  to  a  grand  ban- 
quet. The  entertainment  was  magnificent,  but  there  was  no  bread. 
The  Earl  of  Wiirtemburg  asked  a  servant  for  it,  but  the  Elector 
Frederick  took  him  by  the  hand  and  led  him  to  a  window,  saying, 
The  warriors  who  devastate  the  fields,  stamp  down  the  seedl,  and 
burn  the  mills,  should  not  ask  for  bread.  It  does  not  belong  to 
them.'*  Frederick  then  resumed  the  lively  conversation  which  had 
been  interrupted  ;  but  his  lesson  had  touched  the  heart  of  his  pris- 
oners. After  a  time  a  considerable  ransom  was  paid,  a  bond  was 
signed  in  which  the  prisoners  agreed  never  again  to  invade  the 
Electoral-Palatinate,  and  they  went  free. 

Seebach.  The  Spinning  Undine,  One  evening  when  the  lasses  of 
Seebach  were  all  gathered  in  the  spinning-room  to  twist  the  linen 
thread,  and  the  lads  were  there  to  repeat  jokes  and  tell  stories, 
and  all  were^  as  merry  as  one  could  wish,  a  beautiful  young  lady 
entered,  bearing  an  ivory  spinning-wheel.  She  asked  to  be  al- 
lowed to  join  their  society.  They  received  her  very  kindly,  gave 
her  the  best  seat,  and  enlarged  the  circle  to  take  her  in.  At  first 
they  were  a  little  embarrassed  by  her  presence,  but  soon  they  resumed 
all  their  former  merriment.  From  the  moment  of  her  entrance  the 
son  of  the  house  was  fascinated,  and  liis  eyes  were  riveted  upon 
her.  When  she  had  departed  and  all  the  others  were  filled 
with  speculations  concerning  her,  he  said  not  a  word.  From 
this  night  she  came  every  evening  for  a  long  time.  She  always 
went  away  at  a  certain  hour,  and  nothing  could  induce  her  to  re- 
main a  moment  later.  The  son  of  the  house  was  sad  when  she 
left,  and  joyous  when  she  appeared,  and  one  could  tell  that  he  loved 
her.  She  had  a  perceptible  influence  too,  on  all.  The  maidens  were 
neater  and  more  tasteful  in  their  dress,  and  their  work  was  better, 
while  the  lads  were  softened  and  more  gentlemanly  in  their  deport- 
ment, and  all  had  come  to  love  her  gentle  face  and  manner.  One 
night  the  lover  determined  to  change  the  hands  of  the  clock,  that  he 
might  have  the  joy  of  gazing  on  her  for  another  hour.  When  she 
rose  to  go  he  followed  her.  She  went  hastily  to  the  Mummelsee,  and 
threw  herself  into  the  waters.  Then  a  complaining,  mournful  sound 
was  heard,  and  the  waters  foamed  and  boiled  angrily.  At  this  the 
lover  also  rushed  into  the  lake  and  disappeared.  Next  day  his 
corpse  was  found,  and  the  spinning  undine  came  no  more. 

Solingen.  The  art  of  blade-making  had  not  reached  its  perfec- 
tion in  Solingen  in  the  tenth  century.    Among  its  blade-makers  was 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


399 


one,  Ruthard,  who  had  all  his  life  greatly  desired  to  discover  a  pro- 
cess by  which  he  could  equal  the  blades  of  Damascus.  He  had 
spent  much  time  and  in  fact  much  money  in  fruitless  experiments. 
One  Christmas  eve  he  returned  to  his  home  more  discouraged  than 
ever  before,  for  a  trial  on  which  he  had  greatly  depended  had  failed 
like  all  the  rest.  His  daughter  Martha  upbraided  him  for  thus  work- 
ing and  wearying  himself,  and,  quite  unsuspicious  of  the  waste  of  his 
money,  declared  that  he  should  give  up  labor  altogether  and  that  it 
was  wicked  to  work  on  this  holy  eve.  But  she  could  not  rally  him, 
neither  did  he  eat  the  supper  she  had  served  to  please  his  taste,  and 
went  out  gloomy  and  sad.  She  sighed,  and  reflected  that  in  this 
humor  he  would  not  smile  on  the  wooing  of  young  William,  his  chief 
workman,  who  was  about  to  ask  him  for  her  hand.  Soon  after  the 
lover  came  to  her,  pale  and  sad.  He  told  how  her  father  had  made 
it  a  condition  of  their  marriage  that  he  should  go  to  Damascus  and 
learn  the  secret  he  so  wished  to  know.  He  had  shown  him  a  blade 
with  which  he  had  easily  and  smoothly  cut  off  a  nail  from  the  wall, 
and  declared  that  no  one  should  be  his  son-in-law  who  could  not 
make  a  blade  like  that.  This  caused  Martha  deep  grief ;  but  Wil- 
liam was  determined  to  try  all  in  the  hope  of  gaining  the  reward. 
So  the  next  morning  he  departed.  The  tenth  day  of  his  journey  he 
was  in  a  solitary  mountain  as  night  approached,  and  just  as  he  de- 
spaired of  finding  a  lodging  he  saw  a  hut,  in  which  was  a  frightful 
old  crone.  He  begged  a  lodging  and  she  promised  him  one,  adding 
that  she  expected  another  visitor.  She  was  extremely  ugly,  her  eyes 
squinted  and  were  red,  while  her  voice  was  almost  a  shriek.  As  she 
was  preparing  his  supper  William  told  her  the  object  of  his  journey. 
After  he  was  in  bed  he  could  not  sleep,  and  about  midnight  he  heard 
such  strange  sounds  that  he  arose  and  peeped  out  to  see  the  cause 
of  them.  A  man  was  sitting  with  the  old  woman  by  the  hearth  and 
over  the  fire  was  a  pot  in  which  something  was  boiling  and  seething, 
while  from  it  rose  at  times  a  blue  flame.  The  man  was  no  more 
agreeable  in  his  personnel  than  the  woman,  and  his  feet  were  concealed 
in  the  ashes.  Suddenly  the  old  woman  started  towards  William,  and 
he  had  scarcely  time  to  get  to  his  bed,  when  she  screamed  to  him  to 
get  up  and  see  a  man  from  the  far  Orient  who  could  tell  him  all  he 
wished  to  know.  The  strange  appearance  of  the  man  and  woman, 
the  flame-colored  mantle  which  he  wore,  and  the  manner  in  which  he 
peered  at  William,  filled  him  with  fear  and  he  trembled  as  he  stood 
before  him.  "  I  know  what  you  seek,"  said  the  man  —  "  and  can 
help  you.  But  I  do  nothing  without  pay.  If  you  receive  the  knowl- 
edge which  you  desire  from  me  I  will  give  you  seven  years  and 
seven  days.  Then  you  will  belong  to  me.  If  you  agree,  well  and 
good.  If  not,  you  shall  never  return  to  your  Martha."  William  was 
too  frightened  to  think  and  too  anxious  to  see  Martha  to  refuse,  so 
he  signed  a  contract  with  a  pen  dipped  in  the  contents  of  the  kettle, 


400 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


and  having  received  a  letter  from  the  man  he  went  again  to  bed.  In 
the  morning  the  old  woman  had  disappeared  as  well  as  the  man. 
William  returned  home  and  told  his  master  all  his  experience.  After 
thinking  much  upon  the  matter,  he  advised  William  that  he  should 
not  open  the  letter,  but  lay  it  carefully  away.  He  consented  that  he 
should  marry  Martha,  and  if  a  son  should  be  born  to  them  he  could 
open  the  letter,  for  over  him  the  Devil  could  have  no  power.  Then 
were  William  and  Martha  happy,  and  as  he  was  honest  and  indus- 
trious he  mended  the  fortunes  of  the  family,  and  all  went  well.  Many 
years  after,  when  Ruthard  and  William  were  both  in  their  graves, 
the  letter  was  opened  by  their  descendant,  and  the  blades  made  by 
its  direction  were  equal  to  the  Damascus  blades,  and  from  that  time 
those  of  Solingen  have  been  excellent  and  world-renowned. 

Speyer.  The  Cathedral  was  founded  in  1030  by  Conrad  IL,  as 
a  burial-place  for  himself  and  his  successors,  and  here  many  royal 
personages  have  been  buried.  The  following  legend  relating  to  the 
death  and  burial  of  Henry  lY.  is  not  without  interest.  The  poor 
monarch  had  died  while  under  the  sentence  of  excommunication  from 
the  pope.  His  unnatural  son,  Henry  Y.,  had  treated  him  most 
wickedly,  and  even  obliged  him  to  live  in  exile,  and  he  died  at  last 
in  poverty  and  wretchedness.  Five  years  elapsed  before  this  son 
requested  the  pope  to  remove  the  ban,  so  that  his  father  might  re- 
ceive Christian  burial.  All  this  time  the  fliithful  servant  of  the  old 
emperor  had  stayed  by  the  body  of  his  master,  and  devoted  much 
of  his  time  to  praying  for  his  soul.  It  would  be  impossible  to  tell 
his  joy  when  at  length  his  beloved  lord  was  interred  with  all  the 
honors  and  ceremonies  which  attend  the  burial  of  crowned  heads. 
Kurt  did  not  long  survive  thase  solemnities,  and  when  he  died  all  the 
bells  of  Speyer  were  tolled  by  unseen  hands,  as  if  an  imperial  burial 
were  taking  place.  Henry  Y.  lived  to  sadly  repent  his  cruelty  to  his 
father,  and  died  a  horrible  death  in  Speyer,  at  which  time,  one  bell, 
and  that  the  sharp,  clear  bell  of  the  poor  sinner,  was  miraculously 
rung.  Those  in  the  street  who  heard  it  asked  each  other  what 
criminal  was  to  be  executed  that  day,  and  when  the  truth  was  known 
horror  filled  every  breast,  and  many  prayers  were  offered  for  the 
repose  of  this  wicked  son. 

Staufenberg  in  Ortenau.  In  the  fine  old  times,  when  fairies 
lived  in  dells  and  streams,  dressed  Cinderellas  for  balls,  and  helped 
Aladdins  to  live  in  style,  the  Rhine  was  not  without  some  most  be- 
witcliing  specimens  of  this  order  of  beings.  But  charming  as  they 
were  when  pleased,  their  revenge  was  dreadful  when  reason  was 
given  for  its  exercise,  and  this  was  strikingly  illustrated  in  the  case 
of  the  young  Count  of  Staufenberg.  He  was  a  very  Apollo.  So 
much  so  that  the  fame  of  his  beauty  preceded  him  wherever  he  went. 
He  was  devoted  to  the  pleasures  of  the  chase,  and  rode  often  to  the 
banks  of  the  Rhine  in  pursuit  of  game.    One  day  while  there  he 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


401 


fell  asleep,  and  when  lie  awoke  a  lovely  maiden  sat  near  and  saluted 
him  in  the  most  friendly  manner.  When  he  asked  her  of  her  home, 
she  said^  she  was  a  nymph  and  lived  in  the  rocky  bed  of  the  river. 
The  count  was  thoroughly  bewitched  by  her,  and  did  not  say  fare- 
well until  he  had  a  promise  from  her  to  meet  him  next  day  at  the 
same  time  and  place.  And  now  he  renounced  the  chase  and  all  his 
former  pleasures,  and  spent  his  spare  hours  with  the  enchantress. 
The  fairy  demanded  and  received  an  oath  of  true  and  eternal  love, 
which  he  willingly  gave ;  and  she  often  told  him,  that  were  it  broken 
nothing  would  remain  to  her  but  endless  sorrow,  for  nymphs  could 
love  but  once.  She  also  said  that  were  he  false  he  could  never  rid 
himself  of  her  plaintive  cry,  for  it  would  be  heard  through  all  his 
castle  or  wherever  he  might  be,  and  that  although  she  should  be  in- 
visible he  would  some  time  see  her  foot,  and  that  would  be  a  sign  that 
he  could  live  but  three  days  longer.  The  count  paid  little  heed 
to  all  this,  for  he  was  at  that  stage  of  love  when  lovers  are  sure  they 
shall  be  ever  true,  and  are  ready  so  to  swear  by  all  on  earth  or  in 
heaven,  fairy-land  not*  excepted.  And  this  love  was  an  advantage  to 
him,  for  whatever  he  undertook  was  successful  through  the  magic  art 
of  his  fairy  sweetheart.  Did  he  leave  her  for  the  chase,  his  arrow 
never  missed  the  mark,  did  he  ride  in  the  lists,  he  was  ever  the  vic- 
tor, and  in  serious  battle  his  lance  or  sword  was  always  sure,  while 
his  life  seemed  to  be  a  charmed  one.  His  fame  was  widely  sounded, 
and  numberless  damsels  had  set  their  hearts  on  him,  and  him  alone. 
But  this  moved  him  not ;  he  was  always  anxious  to  return  to  his 
loved  nymph,  ever  so  sweet,  so  pure,  so  fresh,  with  all  the  refine- 
ment, and  none  of  the  airs  of  the  high-born  maidens  who  so  loved 
him.  But  at  length  the  only  daughter  of  the  emperor  desired  to 
marry  him,  and  her  father,  well  pleased,  made  the  count  acquainted 
with  her  wish.  The  young  man  appreciated  the  honor  thus  offered 
him,  and  assured  the  emperor  of  his  earnest  desire  to  accept  it,  but 
at  the  same  time  told  him  of  his  vows  to  the  maid  of  the  Rhine. 
The  emperor  assured  him  that  a  promise  to  such  a  being  was  not 
binding,  and  added  that  the  bishop  could  release  him  from  any  vows 
he  had  made.  Thus  persuaded,  the  count  consented  to  the  union,  and 
the  marriage  was  soon  celebrated  with  great  festivity.  As  they  sat 
at  the  wedding-feast,  the  count  most  happy  in  gazing  at  his  loving 
young  bride,  and  the  guests  proposing  the  health  of  the  newly  wed- 
ded, suddenly,  from  the  wall  opposite  the  festive  board,  an  extremely 
beautiful  female  foot  protruded,  visible  nearly  to  the  knee,  and  at  the 
same  time  a  heart-rending  wail  sounded  in  all  the  air.  Then  the 
count  cried,  "  Woe  is  me  ! "  and  declared  that  in  three  days  he  must 
die.  He  became  mad,  and  rushed  into  the  forest,  where  he  could  not 
be  found  until  after  three  days,  when  his  lifeless  body  was  borne  to 
his  virgin  bride.  She  retired  to  a  cloister,  where  she  passed  her  life 
in  inconsolable  grief 

26 


402 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


Stavoren.  Six  centuries  ago,  according  to  tradition,  Stavoren 
was  the  first  commercial  city  of  Holland.  High  life  and  magnifi- 
cence prevailed  there,  and  among  those  who  attempted  to. excel  in 
splendor  none  exceeded  the  Virgin  Eichberta.  Her  wealth  was 
enormous.  Her  ships  ploughed  all  seas,  and  brought  home,  not  only 
merchandise,  but  the  rarest  articles  for  her  house,  as  well  as  rich 
clothing,  jewels,  and  ornaments  for  her  person.  She  was  vain  of  her 
wealth,  and  especially  so  of  the  rich  feasts  she  gave.  On  one  of  these 
occasions  a  strange  guest  was  announced  to  Richberta.  He  sent 
her  a  message  that  he  had  been  in  all  countries,  had  seen  the  splen- 
dor of  many  courts,  and  had  come  to  admire  that  of  Eichberta,  of 
wliich  he  had  heard  much.  The  lady  was  flattered,  and  commanded 
that  he  should  be  seated  beside  her.  He  was  an  old  man  in  oriental 
costume,  who  advanced  toward  Eichberta  with  ease  and  elegance. 
He  expected  her  to  offer  him  the  welcome  of  bread  and  salt,  but  while 
hundreds  of  expensive  dishes  loaded  the  table,  there  was  no  bread. 
He  conversed  agreeably,  and  told  many  interesting  stories  of  what 
he  had  seen  and  heard  in  all  the  world.  Eichberta  listened  for  a 
word  of  praise  of  her  and  her  feast,  but  she  heard  none.  At  last  her 
impatience  overcame  her  wisdom,  and  she  asked  what  impression  it 
had  made  on  him.  He  declared  that  only  in  the  halls  of  kings  had 
he  seen  such  splendor,  but  added  that  he  had  been  surprised  to  find 
the  best  thing  in  the  world  wanting.  Then  all  desired  that  he 
should  explain  himself,  but  he  would  not.  This  rendered  Eichberta 
miserable,  and  she  could  not  imagine  what  the  precious  thing  could 
be  which  she  had  not.  She  sent  ships  to  every  clime,  but  could 
hear  of  notliing  that  satisfied  her.  Now  it  happened  that  the  vessel 
in  which  the  commander  of  her  fleet  had  sailed,  made  a  leak,  and 
the  flour  was  spoiled.  There  was  enough  of  meat  and  wine,  but  no 
bread,  and  'the  want  of  it  was  so  dreadful  that  he  decided  that  bread 
was  the  best  and  most  indispensable  of  all  things  on  earth.  So  he 
steered  to  a  Baltic  town  and  took  a  cargo  of  the  finest  wheat,  with 
which  he  returned  to  Stavoren.  He  told  Eichberta  of  his  decision, 
and  that  the  missino;  bread  must  have  been  that  to  which  the  strano-er 
had  referred.  But  Eichberta  was  in  a  rage,  and  demanded  on  which 
side  of  the  vessel  the  cargo  had  been  received,  and  commanded  that 
it  should  all  be  thrown  overboard  from  the  opposite  side.  In  vain 
the  commander  expostulated  with  her ;  she  only  repeated  her  orders, 
and  although  crowds  of  the  needy  flocked  to  her  she  would  not  allow 
them  to  receive  an  ounce  of  the  grain ;  and  it  was  thrown  into  the 
sea  amidst  their  curses.  But  soon  the  grain  germinated,  and  a  forest 
of  stalks  shot  up  and  formed  a  sort  of  net-work  to  which  the  sand  and 
dirt  could  cling,  and  soon  an  impenetrable  bar  was  formed  before  the 
harbor  of  Stavoren,  and  all  vessels  that  made  the  attempt  to  enter 
were  lost.  Eichberta  was  reduced  to  poverty.  Moreover,  a  passage 
through  which  the  sea  had  been  accustomed  to  flow  was  closed  up, 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


403 


and  at  last  in  a  tempest  it  broke  through  the  dykes  and  flooded  the 
city,  and  all  was  lost.  Where  Stavoren  stood  the  Zuydersee  now 
tosses  its  many  waves,  and  when  the  water  is  clear  those  who  sail  be- 
hold with  horror  the  towers  and  palaces  of  the  once  flourishing  city. 
Sterrenberg.    See  Liebenstein. 

St.  Goar  and  St.  Goarhausen.  These  towns,  though  on  opposite 
sides  of  the  Khine,  are  both  named  for  the  holy  St.  Goar,  who  came 
here  about  the  middle  of  the  sixth  century.  He  built  a  hut  below 
the  Lurlei,  where  the  river,  forced  into  a  narrow  channel,  rushes  on 
with  noisy  speed.    Just  above  is  the  ledge  of  rocks  called  the 

Bank.'^  In  those  early  days  many  fishermen  were  attracted  to  this 
spot  by  the  great  numbers  of  salmon  abounding  there.  St.  Goar 
devoted  himself  to  the  work  of  a  missionary  among  this  people,  and 
especially  cared  for  those  who  were  shipwrecked  in  the  "  Gewirre 
or  whirlpool.  The  fishermen  thus  came  to  regard  him  as  a  messen- 
ger from  God,  and  loved  him  accordingly.  The  attention  of  King 
Siegbert  was  drawn  to  St.  Goar  by  his  enemies,  but  when  he  watched 
his  life  he  so  much  admired  his  piety  and  good  living  that  he  ap- 
pointed him  Bishop  of  Trier.  But  this,  and  all  other  preferments, 
St.  Goar  refused,  and  died  where  he  had  lived.  The  king  com- 
manded a  chapel  to  be  built  over  his  cell  and  tomb,  which  became  a 
place  of  pilgrimage,  and  was  in  the  end  enlarged  into  a  convent,  the 
monks  of  which  devoted  themselves  to  hospitality  and  charitable  la- 
bors, as  St.  Goar  had  done.  Robbers  plundered  and  burned  this, 
but  the  Count  of  Arnheim  rebuilt  it  and  inclosed  it  with  walls,  and 
gradually  the  town  of  St.  Goar  was  built  around  it.  So  many  offer- 
ings were  made  at  this  tomb  that  it  became  very  splendid,  and  it  was 
believed  that  misfortune  would  follow  those  who  passed  it  without  a 
visit.  On  one  occasion  Charlemagne  .did  this  and  was  enveloped  in 
a  thick  fog  which  did  not  clear  until  he  had  retraced  his  steps  and 
prayed  in  the  chapel.  His  sons  when  at  variance  met  there  acci- 
dentally and  became  reconciled,  and  his  wife  Fastrada  was  there 
healed  of  a  severe  illness.  In  consideration  of  all  these  benefits, 
Charlemagne  built  a  court  and  a  new  church  for  the  monks  of  St. 
Goar. 

Stolzenfels.  This  castle  was  much  improved  if  not  founded  by 
Arnold  von  Isenburg,  Archbishop  of  Treves,  in  the  middle  of  the 
thirteenth  century.  Its  highest  point  is  four  hundred  and  ten  feet  above 
the  river.  Many  years  ago  the  treasurer  of  Archbishop  Werner  of 
Falkenstein  resided  here  with  his  daughter  Elsbeth,  a  maiden  both 
beautiful  and  good.  Her  father  was  infatuated  with  the  pursuits  of 
alchemy,  astrology,  and  kindred  subjects.  One  night  a  pilgrim  begged 
the  hospitalities  of  the  castle,  and  was  admitted.  Before  long  he  de- 
clared himself  learned  in  alchemy,  and  immediately  the  treasurer 
was  fascinated  with  the  idea  that  possibly  this  man  could  teach  him 
something  of  the  black  art,  which  he  did  not  know.    He  fitted  a 


404 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


room  in  one  of  the  unoccupied  towers,  with  everything  needful  for 
their  use,  and  in  this  the  two  often  passed  their  nights  as  well  as 
days.  Elsbeth  watched  her  father  grow  troubled  and  nervous  until 
at  last  he  no  longer  noticed  her  or  her  endearments.  One  day  a 
messenger  announced  the  approach  of  the  archbishop.  Then  was 
the  treasurer  most  wretched  ;  he  was  as  one  mad,  and  walked  the 
castle  weeping.  Elsbeth  had  watched  him  sorrowfully,  and  was 
about  to  approach  him  to  endeavor  to  comfort  him,  when  he  rushed 
to  the  apartment  of  the  alchemist.  She  followed  to  the  door  and 
listened  to  see  if  she  could  ascertain  the  true  cause  of  his  grief  He 
upbraided  the  pilgrim  with  having  deceived  him,  and  caused  him  to 
spend  not  only  his  own  gold,  but  that  of  the  archbishop.  The  other 
replied  in  measured  tones  that  if  he  would  comply  with  his  request 
and  bring  him  a  virgin  who  had  never  loved  any  man  he  could  have 
gold  to  his  hearths  content.  The  treasurer  declared  in  one  breath 
that  he  would  not  add  murder  to  his  sins,  and  with  the  next,  that  he 
must  have  gold  if  he  suffered  eternal  torments  for  it.  Then  he 
rushed  away.  Elsbeth  now  approached  the  pilgrim,  and  said  that 
having  heard  all  she  was  ready  to  sacrifice  herself  for  her  father. 
He  at  first  regarded  her  with  all  his  wickedness  depicted  on  his  face, 
then  remembering  himself  he  changed  to  a  tender  manner,  and 
would  have  taken  her  hand.  She  repulsed  him,  shuddering,  and 
declared  that  she  could  plunge  a  dagger  to  her  heart,  but  she  would 
not  suffer  the  profanation  of  his  touch.  Then  he  told  her  to  return 
at  midnight  and  all  should  be  prepared,  and  added  that  at  sunrise 
her  father  should  possess  all  he  desired.  The  maiden  demanded  if 
he  could  swear  this.  Instantly  he  took  a  cross  from  his  bosom  and 
solemnly  swore  that  if  she  obeyed  him,  her  father  should  be  rich  and 
honored.  "  I  shall  come,"  said  Elsbeth,  and  withdrew.  Then  the 
monk  gloated  over  his  wickedness ;  he  laughed  at  the  cross,  saying  it 
had  done  him  much  good,  and  touched  a  spring  which  sent  a  dagger 
out  of  it.  He  proceeded  to  make  fast  the  doors,  and  to  raise  a  stone 
from  the  floor  where  he  had  concealed  the  gold  the  treasurer  be- 
lieved to  have  been  lost  in  the  crucible.  He  fastened  the  bag  con- 
taining it  beneath  his  gown  and  waited  for  the  night.  Meanwhile 
the  bishop  and  his  train  had  arrived,  and  all  was  confusion  about  the 
castle.  Elsbeth,  pale  and  sad,  directed  the  servants,  till  the  bishop 
desired  to  see  her.  He  told  her  how  pretty  she  had  grown,  and  pre- 
sented her  to  his  knights,  warning  them  jestingly  that  all  must  not 
fall  in  love  with  her,  while  she,  blushing,  could  not  raise  her  eyes. 
Among  the  knights  was  one  of  the  family  of  Westerburg,  whose  heart 
was  given  to  Elsbeth  even  while  the  bishop  spoke,  and  he  could  think 
of  nothing  save  the  maiden,  and  wonder  whether  fortune  would  favor 
their  better  acquaintance.  So  wakeful  was  he  with  these  thoughts 
that  he  made  no  attempt  to  sleep.  Looking  from  his  window  at  mid- 
night, he  saw  Elsbeth  cross  the  court  to  the  most  remote  part  of  the 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


405 


castle.  Impelled  as  by  an  irresistible  power,  he  followed  her,  and 
arriving  at  the  place  where  she  disappeared  he  looked  into  the  apart- 
ment of  the  alchemist.  He  saw  the  maiden  on  her  knees  and  the 
monk  bent  over  a  crucible.  He  turned  to  her  saying,  "  Are  you 
resolved  to  do  all  as  I  shall  bid  you  ?  "  The  knight  could  not  hear 
her  low  reply,  but  the  pilgrim  said,  "  Then  will  your  father  be  happy 
and  able  to  restore  the  gold  he  has  taken  from  the  archbishop.  The 
sacred  book  of  science  declares,  blood  for  blood ;  honor  for  honor. 
By  the  sacrifice  of  the  latter  you  can  make  your  father  honorable 
among  knights,  and  with  the  former  you  can  obtain  gold  to  rescue 
him  from  infamy  !  Prepare  then  for  the  sacrifice  !  "  Thus  speak- 
ing, he  approached  as  if  to  embrace  her.  Elsbeth  drew  herself 
proudly  back,  and  said,  Away,  wretch  !  I  came  to  shed  my  blood  for 
my  father,  but  I  will  not  suffer  insult  even  for  him !  "  She  seized  a 
dagger  and  would  have  plunged  it  to  her  heart,  but  the  knight  burst 
in  and  snatched  the  fatal  weapon.  The  maiden  fainted,  and  the 
monk  was  for  a  moment  stupefied ;  then  while  the  knight  restored 
Elsbeth  he  hastened  to  escape.  The  maiden  woke  as  from  a  fright- 
ful dream  in  sobs  and  tears.  The  knight  endeavored  to  console  her, 
and  at  length  she  confided  all  to  him.  Then  he  assured  that  he 
would  supply  the  gold  for  her  father,  and  all  should  yet  be  well. 
^'  Rejoice,"  added  he,  as  I  do,  that  this  has  occurred,  for  by  it  have 
I  not  found  a  treasure  more  precious  than  that  which  the  alchemist 
seeks  ?  "  Their  eyes  met,  and  through  them  heart  spoke  to  heart  as 
they  sealed  their  betrothal  with  a  kiss.  Next  day  the  knight  sought 
the  treasurer,  to  confess  his  love  for  Elsbeth  and  to  offer  the  gold  he 
so  much  needed.  But  the  necessity  was  supplied  in  another  way, 
for  the  body  of  the  pilgrim  was  found  in  the  Rhine,  and  on  it  all  the 
gold  that  the  treasurer  had  lost.  The  marriage  of  Elsbeth  and  the 
knight  was  soon  celebrated.  Her  father  gave  her  a  large  dowry,  and 
never  forgot  the  love  and  courage  she  had  shown  by  resolving  to 
sacrifice  her  life  for  him. 

Strasbourg.  There  lived  in  Strasbourg,  many  years  ago,  a  me- 
chanic who  had  gained  great  celebrity  by  the  finish  and  delicacy  of  his 
works.  He  was  a  widower  with  an  only  child.  She  managed  the 
affairs  of  the  house  and  all  was  happiness.  But  the  mind  of  the 
father  was  ever  occupied  with  the  desire  and  endeavor  to  produce 
some  work  more  perfect  than  any  he  had  yet  done.  He  secluded 
himself  and  gave  little  attention  to  business.  His  friends  expostu- 
lated in  vain,  and  finally  left  him  to  what  they  called  his  folly.  But 
two  persons  out  of  all  his  acquaintances  continued  to  visit  him.  One 
of  these  was  an  old  man,  rich  and  disagreeable,  who  after  years  of 
maneuvering  had  obtained  the  appointment  to  a  magistracy.  The 
other,  a  young  and  worthy  mechanic,  who  came  often  to  converse 
with  the  learned  master  upon  topics  connected  with  his  art.  He  also 
loved  to  watch  the  daughter  as  she  performed  her  various  duties,  and 


406 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


often  tarried  by  her  side,  much  longer  than  by  that  of  the  abstracted 
father.  At  length  the  rich  old  man,  in  all  the  satisfaction  and  pride 
of  his  new  office,  came  to  demand  the  hand  of  the  daughter  in  mar- 
riage. The  father  was  overcome  with  surprise,  and  the  daughter  by 
distress,  for  she  well  understood  the  revengeful  disposition  of  her 
suitor,  and  feared  he  would  not  easily  forgive  her  refusal.  This 
proved  to  be  so,  for  he  left  them  with  threats  of  vengeance.  In  the 
midst  of  all  this  excitement  the  young  mechanic  came,  and  inquired 
the  cause  of  her  distress,  and  when  he  heard  her  declare  how  hateful 
the  thought  of  such  a  marriage  was  to  her,  his  heart  was  full  of  joy, 
and  he  was  bold  enough  to  ask  her,  if  since  she  scorned  the  wealth  of 
the  magistrate,  she  could  accept  his  poverty  and  devotion.  Her  an- 
swer was  all  he  could  desire  ;  but  she  begged  him  to  wait  a  time  before 
speaking  to  her  father  on  this  subject,  as  he  had  not  recovered  from 
the  surprise  and  unpleasantness  of  the  late  event.  But  the  young 
man,  now  sure  of  the  maiden's  love,  dared  asked  the  father  to  make 
him  a  partner  in  his  business,  which  he  readily  consented  to  do.  Thus 
the  lovers  were  more  together  and  all  their  affairs  were  more  prosper- 
ous than  formerly,  for  the  young  man  looked  out  for  the  interest  of 
the  old  one,  while  he  dreamed  over  his  schemes.  Together  the  young 
people  made  the  father  very  happy.  One  day  they  were  startled  by 
shouts  of  joy  from  the  apartment  of  the  father,  and  when  they  reached 
him  found  him  standing  before  a  clock  which  although  altogether  new 
and  surprising  in  its  construction,  moved  lightly  and  easily  and  with 
wonderful  exactness.  The  excitement  of  the  master  was  intense.  He 
pressed  his  daughter  to  his  bosom,  while  the  young  man  held  his 
hand  in  silent  admiration  and  respect.  When  the  work  was  shown 
to  the  public,  there  was  no  more  ridicule  of  the  master  and  all  ideas 
of  his  madness  were  dispelled.  The  rejected  lover  now  saw  an  op- 
portunity to  revenge  himself,  and  was  able  for  a  long  time  to  prevent 
the  mayor  of  the  city  from  approving  the  work.  But  the  fame  of 
the  clock  went  abroad,  and  commissioners  were  sent  from  Basel  to 
examine  it.  Then  the  mayor  was  forced  to  approve  the  clock,  and 
when  those  from  Basel  desired  to  buy  it,  the  corporation  of  Stras- 
bourg bought  it  and  agreed  to  place  it  in  a  chapel  in  the  cathedral. 
The  city  of  Basel  then  ordered  another  to  be  made  for  them,  but  this 
greatly  excited  those  of  Strasbourg,  for  they  were  unwilling  that  any 
any  other  city  should  have  such  a  clock.  The  discarded  lover  was 
loud  in  his  declarations  that  it  would  be  treason  in  the  master  to 
make  another.  The  latter  was  called  before  the  authorities  and  a 
promise  that  he  would  not  make  a  second  clock  required  of  him. 
He  replied  that  God  had  given  him  his  talents  for  use,  that  when  he 
studied  and  labored  for  years  they  turned  from  him  sneeringly,  and 
derided  his  work  when  done,  that  only  when  those  of  Basel  came  to 
admire,  did  they  approve  ;  that  he  had  been  loyal  in  that  he  had  given 
the  first  to  his  native  city,  but  he  would  promise  nothing  which  could 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


407 


hamper  his  future  labors.  He  retired  from  the  tribunal,  and  they 
then  determined  (being  led  on  by  the  offended  magistrate)  to  destroy 
the  sight  of  the  master  in  order  to  gain  their  end.  Cruel  as  was 
this  decision  he  received  it  without  a  word,  and  when  asked  if  he  de- 
sired anything  before  the  execution  of  the  sentence,  he  answered  that 
he  wished  to  suffer  before  his  work,  and  asked  that  he  might  be 
allowed  to  give  it  some  final  touches.  These  requests  were  granted, 
and  he  gazed  long  at  his  darling  clock ;  even  in  this  sad  moment  his 
persecutor  reminded  him  that  others  waited,  and  the  old  man,  after 
busying  himself  a  moment  with  the  works,  declared  that  all  was  fin- 
ished. The  dreadful  deed  was  done,  but  while  he  writhed  in  agony 
there  came  a  strange  buzz  from  the  clock,  and  lo,  the  weights  fell  to  the 
ground  and  it  was  destroyed.  He  had  removed  the  principal  spring, 
and  his  revenge  was  complete.  Then  the  lovers  led  him  away  and 
being  married  devoted  their  lives  to  the  master,  while  the  wicked 
magistrate  was  given  up  to  scorn  and  contempt  and  expelled  from 
society.  Thus  the  clock  remained  until  1842,  when  parts  of  it  were 
used  in  the  new  one  constructed  by  Schwilgue ;  and  the  old  master 
shares  the  honors  with  the  new  and  more  fortunate  one  of  later  days. 

Taunus.  When  Rudolph  of  Hapsburg  was  emperor  he  published 
a  decree  that  any  robber  knight  taken  with  arms  in  his  hands  should 
be  executed,  and  his  accomplices  also.  At  this  time  there  lived  in 
the  Taunus,  at  the  Castle  of  Falkenstein,  a  knight  named  Kurt,  who 
had  seven  sons,  and  their  depredations  were  so  numerous  and  bold 
that  great  complaints  were  made  to  the  emperor  at  Worms.  He 
took  with  him  a  large  force  and  proceeded  to  invest  Falkenstein. 
The  knight  and  his  sons  fought  bravely,  but  were  taken  by  a  storm 
attack.  Then  the  emperor's  edict  must  be  obeyed.  A  circle  of 
soldiers  was  formed  on  the  platform  of  the  castle,  and  Kurt  and  his 
seven  sons  were  led  out  for  execution.  So  sad  a  spectacle  moved 
even  the  heart  of  the  emperor,  but  he  could  not  violate  the  law. 
Much  sympathy  was  felt  for  the  sons  from  the  fact  that  they  had 
obeyed  their  father  and  been  led  on  by  him.  The  emperor  then  said 
(in  order  to  give  them  a  chance,  however  slight),  that  liberty  should 
be  given  to  the  son  toward  whom  the  father  should  advance  afler 
execution.  A  light  beamed  on  the  face  of  Kurt  as  he  bowed  his 
head  to  the  sword,  and,  mirabile  dictu  !  as  soon  as  the  head  rolled 
on  the  ground  the  form  advanced  to  the  eldest,  the  next,  the  third, 
and  so  on  until  it  fell  at  the  feet  of  the  youngest.  A  strange  sensa- 
tion of  mingled  horror  and  amazement  filled  the  hearts  of  all  who 
beheld  this  wonderful  sight.  The  emperor  gave  the  seven  young 
men  places  in  his  army,  in  order  that  they  might  prove  their  loyalty 
and  efface  the  disgrace  which  had  heretofore  attended  them. 

Thann  in  Alsace.  The  Lyingfield,  This  is  a  barren  waste  on 
which  no  vegetation  flourishes,  avoided  by  all,  and  literally  a  field  of 
death,  upon  which  lie  the  bones  of  those  who  there  fell.    One  night 


408 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


a  wanderer  who  had  lost  his  way,  entered  on  this  plain.  When  the 
hour  of  midnight  sounded,  he  heard  a  strange  subterranean  noise 
and  a  rattle  of  swords,  with  other  sounds  like  those  of  a  battle.  An 
armed  knight  came  to  him,  and  sternly  demanded  what  he  sought  in 
this  accursed  place.  When  the  wanderer  declared  himself  a  stranger, 
the  knight  told  him  that  many  years  before  Louis  the  Pious  had  there 
arranged  his  soldiers  to  fight  an  enemy.  His  sons  who  were  with 
him  persuaded  his  troops  to  abandon  him  and  leave  him  to  his  antag- 
onists. When  the  old  monarch  realized  his  betrayal  he  raised  his 
hands  to  heaven  and  called  down  curses  on  his  sons,  his  soldiers,  and 
the  field  which  had  witnessed  their  treachery.  From  that  time  the 
plain  had  been  deserted  and  the  perjured  men  who  fell  there  could 
obtain  no  repose,  but  were  ever  forced  to  fight  each  other  again  and 
again.  When  the  story  was  ended  the  earth  opened  and  the  knight 
disappeared.  Then  the  wanderer  hastened  in  great  terror  to  leave 
the  place  and  when  he  at  last  reached  Thann  recounted  his  expe- 
rience on  the  Lyingfield. 

The  Mortar  that  was  mixed  with  Wine.  There  is  a  tower  in 
Thann  which  is  said  to  have  been  built  in  a  season  when  there  was 
a  scarcity  of  water,  but  such  a  supply  of  wine  that  casks  and  vessels 
enough  to  hold  it  could  not  be  found.  So  the  mortar  was  mixed 
with  wine,  which  gave  it  a  delicious  fragrance.  It  is  said  that  it  was 
of  an  extraordinary  solidity,  and  that  to  this  day,  when  the  vines 
are  in  blossom  the  walls  sometimes  exude  a  pleasant  substance  ;  and 
some  go  so  far  as  to  say  that  at  such  times  the  sound  of  the  bells  is 
more  musical  than  usual.  This  legend  affords  a  more  pleasing  as- 
sociation with  Thann  than  that  of  the  Lyingfield. 

Treuenfels.  Upon  this  height,  which  rises  above  one  of  the  val- 
leys of  the  Siebengebirge,  is  an  altar  upon  which  the  name  of  Liba 
may  still  be  read,  it  having  formed  a  part  of  the  inscription,  for  the 
altar  was  built  to  commemorate  the  devotion  of  the  maiden  Liba  to 
her  father.  Knight  Balther,  who  inhabited  a  castle  not  far  distant 
from  Treuenfels.  He  lived  in  the  days  of  Engelbert  I.  when  that 
bishop  attempted  to  stop  the  depredations  of  the  robber  knights. 
Liba  was  his  only  child,  and  betrothed  to  the  young  Schott  of  Griin- 
stein.  Now  Balther  was  not  a  robber,  but  he  felt  that  the  laws  of 
the  archbishop  were  oppressive  and  an  insult  to  the  independence  of 
knights.  One  evening  when  entertaining  a  large  party,  these  sub- 
jects were  discussed,  and  Balther  declared  that  were  he  young  he 
would  not  submit  to  these  insults,  and  taunted  those  about  him  with 
want  of  courage  and  independence.  They  all  sat  for  a  time  in  si- 
lence, when  one  arose  and  said  that  Balther  was  right,  and  challenged 
those  who  would  prove  their  claim  to  knighthood  to  fill  their  goblets 
and  drink  to  an  alliance  against  the  tyrant.  They  were  inflamed 
with  wine  and  passion,  and  all  drank  to  the  success  of  their  under- 
taking.   Not  long  after,  these  knights  waylaid  and  murdered  the 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


409 


bishop.  This  roused  the  indignation  of  all  the  land,  and  the  em- 
peror ordered  the  arrest  of  the  assassins.  All  evidence  tended  to 
make  Balther  their  leader,  and  the  command  was  given  to  burn  his 
castle  and  make  him  prisoner.  The  castle  was  on  fire  before  any 
alarm  of  the  approach  of  the  troops  had  been  given.  Liba  had 
barely  time  to  arouse  her  father  and  lead  him  through  a  subterranean 
passage  to  a  place  of  safety.  They  entered  a  thick  forest  and  there 
lived.  Balther  grew  rapidly  blind,  and  their  only  subsistence  was 
the  berries  and  herbs  which  Liba  gathered.  One  day  in  their  wan- 
derings they  came  to  a  cave,  where  she  made  moss  couches,  and 
henceforth  remained.  Often  Balther  told  how  earnestly  he  repented 
his  crime,  and  begged  Liba  to  forgive  the  deed  which  had  resulted  so 
unhappily.  One  day  they  were  sitting  upon  the  rock  and  the  old 
man  took  her  head  in  his  hands  as  was  his  custom,  kissing  her  and 
smoothing  her  hair,  when  Liba  saw  a  tall  young  hunter  behind  some 
bushes  near  by.  She  would  have  suddenly  called  out  "  Schott ! — 
but  she  feared  the  effect  on  her  father,  and  she  knew  not  if  he  would 
still  care  for  the  child  of  a  criminal  and  outlaw.  The  tears  gathered 
in  her  eyes,  and  raising  her  hands  to  heaven  she  prayed :  "  O  God, 
forgive  our  sins  we  pray  Thee,  and  let  our  punishment  be  ended." 

Amen,'*  responded  the  old  man,  and  as  they  spoke  a  sharp  flash 
of  lightning  came  and  the  heavy  thunder  reverberated  through  the 
mountains.  The  good  Father  had  heard  their  prayer,  for  when 
Schott  went  toward  them  both  were  dead.  He  buried  them  where 
he  had  found  them  and  erected  a  chapel,  the  altar  of  which  still  re- 
mains, and  the  height  was  from  that  time  named  Treuenfels. 

Trifels,  Castle  of.  Richard  the  Lion-hearted.  In  the  Haardt 
mountains  in  the  Bavarian-Rhenish  Palatinate  rises  the  mountain  on 
which  stands  Castle  Trifels.  The  views  from  this  and  the  neighbor- 
ing heights  are  the  finest  in  all  the  Palatinate.  It  takes  in  the  bor- 
ders of  the  Rhine  from  Strasbourg  to  the  Odenwald  with  the  Black 
Forest  also  in  the  distance,  while  the  towers  of  Worms,  Mannheim, 
Speyer,  Carlsruhe,  and  Strasbourg  are  all  to  be  seen  with  the  eye 
alone,  and  near  at  hand  are  the  grotesque  and  many  colored  peaks 
of  the  Yosges.  But  this  is  not  the  place  even  if  we  had  the  power 
to  picture  these  beauties.  This  castle  was  formerly  a  prison,  a  for- 
tress and  royal  residence,  and  a  treasury  of  the  royal  jewels  and 
insignia.  About  Easter  time  in  3193,  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion  was 
sent  to  Trifels  by  Henry  VI.,  who  had  received  him  a  prisoner  from 
Leopold  of  Austria.  He  was  here  more  than  a  year,  during  which 
time  his  faithful  Blondel  with  some  English  knights  had  travelled 
far  and  near  to  discover  the  prison  of  the  king.  At  length  they 
came  to  Trifels,  and  when  Blondel  in  the  role  of  a  minstrel  sang  a 
song  which  Richard  had  composed,  the  king  answered  him  by  sing- 
ing another  strain.  Blondel  introduced  himself  into  the  castle  under 
some  pretext,  and  won  the  affections  of  the  daughter  of  the  jailer. 


410 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE 


At  length  they  together  contrived  a  plan  by  which,  with  the  cooper- 
ation of  the  other  knights  who  remained  at  hand  outside  the  castle, 
they  liberated  the  king,  and  all  reached  England  in  safety.  There 
Blondel  married  the  beautiful  Mathilda,  and  was  largely  rewarded, 
with  the  other  knights,  for  the  services  they  had  rendered  the  brave 
Richard  Coeur  de  Lion. 

Wildsee.    See  Baden-Baden. 

Windeck,  Castle  of.    See  Baden-Baden. 

Worms.  Siegfried.  After  the  adventures  of  Siegfried  in  the 
Nibelungenlande  he  determined  to  go  to  Worms  to  see  Chrimhilde 
the  sister  of  King  Gunther.  He  took  with  him  twelve  well-chosen 
and  brave  knights.  When  he  was  come  to  Worms,  the  king,  who 
had  heard  of  his  prowess,  received  him  surrounded  by  his  court. 
Siegfried  was  amazed  at  the  immense  size  of  those  he  saw  here  and 
especially  that  of  the  brothers  of  the  king,  and  Ute,  his  mother. 
Siegfried  here  passed  a  year  in  tournaments  and  feasts,  but  never 
saw  Chrimhilde  as  he  so  much  wished.  At  length  messengers  ar- 
rived from  the  Saxons  and  Danes  to  declare  war  against  Gunther. 
Siegfried  immediately  undertook  to  assist  the  Burgundians  and 
promised  to  go  forth  with  his  twelve  knights.  He  persuaded  Gun- 
ther to  remain  at  home.  Siegfried  fought  with  the  two  northern 
kings,  and  conquered  the  first  while  the  second  surrendered  to  him. 
They  with  much  booty  were  sent  to  Worms,  and  Siegfried  was  re- 
ceived there  with  the  highest  honors.  He  then  saw  Chrimhilde, 
and  from  that  day  they  were  much  together.  About  this  time  the 
report  reached  Gunther  of  the  beauty  and  prowess  of  Brunhilde, 
queen  of  Iceland,  who  would  marry  any  one  who  could  conquer  her 
in  wrestling,  and  many  had  fallen  in  the  attempt.  Gunther  was  re- 
solved to  go  to  see  her,  and  Siegfried  promised  to  go  with  him  and 
that  he  should  succeed  if  he  would  give  Chrimhilde  to  him  on  their 
return.  To  this  Gunther  assented,  and  with  two  other  knights  they 
set  out  for  Isenstein  the  capital  of  queen  Brunhilde.  She  received 
them  with  great  ceremony  and  respect,  and  soon  all  was  arranged  for 
Gunther's  trial.  His  courage  would  have  failed  him  after  seeing  the 
great  strength  of  the  queen,  but  Siegfried  encouraged  him  with 
hopes  and  promises  of  success.  When  the  day  came,  Siegfried  put 
on  his  Tarnkappe,  which  he  had  taken  in  the  Mbelungenlande,  and 
which  made  its  wearer  invisible,  and  stood  beside  Gunther.  He 
whispered  to  him  that  he  was  there  to  aid  him,  and  thus  inspired 
him  with  confidence,  and  in  every  trial  of  skill  or  strength  Gun- 
ther was  by  the  help  of  Siegfried  victorious.  When  all  was  over, 
Gunther  claimed  the  hand  of  Brunhilde,  but  she  answered  him  eva- 
sively, saying,  "  This  cannot  happen  without  the  consent  of  my  gen- 
erals and  princes."  Her  answer  did  not  please  Gunther  or  Sieg- 
fried, and  they  feared  the  queen  intended  some  treachery,  so 
Siegfried  took  their  ship  and  hastened  away  to  Nibelungenlande, 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


411 


and  requested  assistance  from  the  dwarf  Albericli,  and  he  gave  him 
a  thousand  of  the  best  fighting  giants  of  the  land,  and  ships  to  take 
them  to  Iceland.  When  Brunhilde  saw  them  come  she  asked  Gunther 
who  they  were,  and  he  answered  that  they  were  his  suite  whom  he  had 
lefl  on  the  way.  Then  she  felt  it  was  of  no  use  to  contend  with  such 
a  force,  and  prepared  to  go  to  the  Rhine.  When  the  fleet  reached 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  Siegfried  and  some  other  knights  hastened  on 
to  make  preparations  for  the  reception  of  Gunther  and  Brunhilde. 
All  went  well  and  they  were  affectionately  welcomed  by  Dame  Ute  and 
Chrimhilde.  Then  the  marriage  was  celebrated  and  at  the  wedding 
feast  Siegfried  claimed  of  Gunther  the  fulfillment  of  his  promise  that 
Chrimhilde  should  be  his  wife.  The  king  turned  to  his  sister  for  her 
consent  and  she  gave  it  most  heartily,  and  the  two  were  united  and 
lived  happily.  But  with  Gunther  it  was  not  so,  for  the  truth  was, 
that  Brunhilde  was  in  love  with  Siegfried  rather  than  the  king,  and 
when  they  were  come  to  the  bridal  chamber  she  refused  him  the  re- 
ward of  love,  and  when  he  would  have  insisted  she  bound  him  and  hung 
him  on  the  wall  where  she  left  him  until  morning.  Then  Gunther  told 
this  to  Siegfried  and  he  promised  to  assist  him,  so  he  again  donned  the 
Tarnkappe  and  went  with  Gunther  to  his  chamber.  There  he  threw 
Brunhilde  down  and  tore  off  her  magic  girdle  and  a  ring  which  gave 
her  such  great  strength,  and  she  believing  herself  to  be  overcome  by 
her  husband  could  make  no  farther  resistance.  Now  shortly  after  all 
this  Siegfried  and  his  wife  went  to  the  Netherlands  to  the  court  of 
his  father,  where  he  was  gladly  received  with  feasts  and  festivals, 
and  the  hearts  of  his  parents  were  glad.  Here  he  remained  two 
years,  during  which  time  Chrimhilde  bore  a  son,  his  mother  died,  and 
his  father  transferred  the  kingdom  to  Siegfried.  Then  a  messenger 
came  from  Brunhilde  urging  them  to  come  to  Worms.  Now  Brun- 
hilde did  this  with  evil  intentions,  because  she  had  always  been  jeal- 
ous of  Siegfried  and  his  power  over  the  Nibelung  nation.  But  the 
invitation  was  accepted,  and  Siegfried  set  out  with  his  wife,  his 
father,  and  a  hundred  knights.  Arriving  at  Worms  they  were  re- 
ceived with  great  splendor,  and  feast  succeeded  feast ;  but  one  day 
when  in  the  open  space  now  in  front  of  the  Cathedral  at  Worms  the 
two  queens  had  a  fierce  quarrel  concerning  the  strength  and  bravery 
of  their  husbands.  Each  declared  that  their  own  excelled  the  other, 
and  finally  they  waxed  so  warm  that  Chrimhilde  declared  that  even 
in  the  bridal  night  Siegfried  had  assisted  Gunther.  Now  her  brother 
was  grieved  to  find  that  Siegfried  had  not  kept  this  a  secret,  but  he 
was  so  thankful  to  him  for  all  he  had  done  that  he  could  not  think 
of  resenting  this.  But  Brunhilde  determined  to  be  revenged,  and 
she  enlisted  the  Knight  Hagen  and  several  others  in  her  cause  who 
were  bent  upon  killing  Siegfried.  They  knew  that  he  had  been 
rendered  invulnerable  with  dragon's  fat,  but  that  like  Achilles  he 
had  one  spot  remaining  which  was  sensitive  to  injury  :  this  was  his 


412 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE, 


shoulder.  So  they  arranged  a  great  hunt,  and  when  all  were  thirsty 
they  went  to  a  spring,  and  as  Siegfried  stooped  down  to  drink,  Ha- 
gen  pierced  the  shoulder  with  a  spear  and  a  great  stream  of  blood 
gushed  from  the  wound.  Siegfried  seized  Hagen  and  threw  him 
to  the  ground,  but  fell  immediately  himself,  and  only  lived  to  recom- 
mend Chrimhilde  to  the  care  of  Gunther,  who  with  all  the  right- 
minded  of  his  court  greatly  lamented  this  act  of  treachery.  For 
other  adventures  of  Siegfried  see  Xanten. 

The  Combat  of  Maximilian  /.  When  this  emperor  called  together 
all  the  knights  of  his  dominion  to  consult  concerning  the  measures 
to  be  employed  to  maintain  peace  and  good  order,  a  great  tourna- 
ment was  announced,  and  knights  of  all  nations  were  invited  to  con- 
tend for  the  prize.  Immediately  there  came  a  Frenchman  of  great 
renown,  Claude  de  Barre,  and  he  hung  his  arms  over  the  door  of 
his  lodgings,  and  sent  out  a  herald  to  invite  all  to  a  combat  for  life 
or  death.  Time  passed  on  and  none  dared  accept  the  challenge,  and 
Maximilian  saw  with  sorrow  that  no  one  would  vindicate  the  Ger- 
man against  the  French  arms.  When  the  time  arrived  and  the  chal- 
lenger had  become  extremely  vainglorious  and  disagreeable,  the  em- 
peror himself  hung  the  arms  of  Ostriech  and  Burgundy  beside  those 
of  the  Frenchman.  The  day  arrived,  and  many  thousands  gathered 
to  witness  the  combat.  While  mounted,  both  lances  were  broken, 
but  neither  combatant  unhorsed.  They  then  dismounted  to  contend 
hand  to  hand.  At  first  de  Barre  seemed  the  best  man,  but  sud- 
denly MaximiUan  called  up  his  strength  and  fire,  and  soon  overcame 
the  giant  boaster.  The  emperor  offered  his  hand  to  his  humbled 
opponent,  and  invited  him  to  a  banquet  that  night,  but  de  Barre 
thought  it  well  to  leave  Worms  that  very  evening. 

The  Captive  Jews  at  Wot^ms.  The  lord  of  Dalberg,  whose  castle 
was  at  Hernsheim,  near  Worms,  and  who  belonged  to  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  noble  families  of  the  German  empire,  served  with 
the  Romans  at  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem.  He  was  a  centurion, 
and  received  as  his  portion  of  the  booty  a  number  of  Jewish  pris- 
oners, whom  he  took  home  with  him  to  form  a  Jewish  colony.  Among 
them  was  an  old  man,  almost  blind,  who  was  led  by  his  daughter, 
whose  beauty  was  beyond  description.  The  old  man  was  both 
learned  and  holy,  and  he,  together  with  his  daughter,  cheered  the 
other  prisoners  and  encouraged  them  to  trust  in  the  power  of  Je- 
hovah. As  soon  as  Dalberg  arrived  there  were  many  feasts  and 
banquets  to  welcome  him,  and  to  give  his  friends  an  opportunity  to 
hear  of  all  he  had  seen.  Among  his  friends  was  a  distinguished 
Roman  officer  who  belonged  to  a  cohort  stationed  at  Mayence.  He 
no  sooner  saw  the  lovely  Jewess  than  he  determined  to  possess  her. 
To  this  he  knew  he  could  not  obtain  the  consent  of  Dalberg,  so  he 
resolved  to  run  away  with  her.  He  prepared  a  refuge  in  the  forest, 
a.nd  watched  his  opportunity.    One  day  he  seized  her  as  she  was 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


413 


drawing  water,  and  leaping  on  his  horse  with  her,  carried  her  away. 
But  when  he  reached  his  hiding-place  he  could  not  accomplish  his 
base  designs,  and  at  last  as  he  grew  wild  with  passion  and  rage  the 
maid  fell  on  her  knees  praying  God  to  protect  her,  and  preserve  her 
virtue.  "  To  hell  with  your  God  !  "  shouted  the  Roman.  "  Mine  you 
shall  be  though  the  heavens  fall !  "  and  he  approached  her  with 
wicked  determination.  Then  came  a  lightning  flash,  and  a  stone 
which  killed  the  blaspheming  wretch.  The  maiden  was  saved  ;  but 
when  she  regarded  the  stone,  she  saw  the  features  of  Jehovah,  and 
so  dazzling  was  the  sight  that  she  became  blind.  Her  father  and 
Dalberg  at  length  found  her,  and  on  the  stone  was  the  name  of 
Jehovah  in  Hebrew,  but  the  brightness  was  gone.  When  she  told 
her  story  all  regarded  her  with  reverence.  But  neither  she  or  her 
father  long  survived  this  sad  event.  When  these  poor  Jews  left 
their  homes  they  brought  with  them  sacks  of  earth,  that  they  might 
be  interred  in  their  native  soil,  and  these  were  the  first  who  were  thus 
buried.  The  stone  which  marked  their  graves,  was  later  built  into 
the  synagogue  at  Worms,  and  in  a  part  of  the  Jewish  burial-ground  is 
still  shown  a  spot,  said  to  be  formed  of  the  earth  brought  from  Judjea. 

The  Coquettish  Maiden  of  Wampolder  Hof.  This  house,  which  is  at 
present  divided,  belonged  to  the  distinguished  lord  of  Wampold,  and 
was  in  charge  of  a  castellan  who  was  also  a  nobleman,  but  not  rich. 
He  had  a  coquettish  daughter,  who  although  fondly  in  love  and 
solemnly  betrothed  to  a  young  man  whom  her  father  approved, 
could  never  be  done  with  teasing  him.  One  Walpurgis  night  when 
a  company  of  young  people  were  assembled  at  Wampolder  Hof, 
they  told  many  stories  of  witches,  and  the  maiden  imposed  on  her 
betrothed  the  task  of  watching  the  witches'  procession,  and  telling 
her  of  it  afterwards.  The  youth  laughed,  and  promised  to  do  so,  for 
he  was  a  good  Christian  and  feared  nothing.  When  the  company 
separated  he  went  to  a  crossway  in  the  fields  for  this  purpose,  and 
was  never  seen  again.  His  mother  was  a  widow,  and  overcome  with 
grief,  she  cursed  the  maiden,  who  went  mad,  and  it  is  said  still  haunts 
the  town,  and  runs  about  each  night  calling  her  lover.  Some  be- 
lieved that  he  was  torn  to  pieces  by  the  witches,  but  others,  that  he 
was  thrown  into  the  Rhine  by  his  rivals,  and  as  a  body  was  found 
which  appeared  to  be  his,  there  is  nothing  in  this  legend  which  in- 
controvertibly  establishes  the  fact  of  the  existence  of  witches. 

Liehfrauenmilch.  Milk  of  Our  Good  Lady,  There  was  an  old 
Burgundian  noble  who  was  a  great  wine-drinker ;  he  was  also  a  good 
Christian  and  gave  much  in  alms  and  charity.  This  troubled  the 
Devil,  who  wished  to  possess  him  entirely,  so  he  disguised  himself  as 
a  strolling  knight,  and  visited  the  nobleman.  When  the  old  man 
gave  him  a  bowl  of  his  best  wine,  Satan  described  a  most  delicious 
beverage  which  he  said  he  had  drank  in  the  south.  The  noble  then 
said  that  if  he  would  bring  him  such  wine  as  he  described,  he  would 


414 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


do  anything  in  his  power  for  him.  Satan  promised  to  plant  him  a 
vineyard  which  would  yield  it,  but  only  on  condition  that  he 
should  give  him  his  soul.  The  vines  were  started,  and  grew  as  by 
magic,  and  when  the  noble  first  tasted  the  wine,  he  christened  it 
Liebfrauenmilch,  meaning  that  there  could  be  nothing  better.  The 
Devil  was  furious  at  hearing  this  name,  but  still  hoped  to  gain  the 
soul  of  the  old  man.  Then  the  good  lady,"  who  pitied  him,  sent 
an  angel  to  drive  the  Devil  away.  The  noble,  who  now  began  to 
realize  that  wine  may  cost  men  their  souls,  built  a  chapel  in  his 
vineyard  and  dedicated  it  to  the  Virgin,  and  for  many  years  under 
her  protection  enjoyed  the  Devil's  delicious  wine,  which  must  have 
deteriorated  since  the  first  vintage,  although  all  who  drink  it  agree 
that  the  knight  was  pleased  with  good  reason,  when  his  Satanic 
majesty  made  him  a  vineyard  which  produced  so  good  a  wine  as  the 
Liebfrauenmilch. 

Xanten.  This  town  is  about  two  and  a  half  miles  fi:*om  the 
Rhine,  and  is  very  ancient.  It  was  called  by  the  Romans,  Castra 
Vetera  and  Colonia  Ulpia.  Here  stood  the  Castle  of  Nibelungen, 
and  in  Xanten,  Siegfried  the  dragon-slayer  was  born.  He  was  the 
son  of  Siegmund,  King  of  the  Netherlands.  When  but  eleven  years 
of  age  he  became  weary  of  the  quiet  life  at  his  father's  castle,  and 
set  out  in  search  of  adventures.  He  wandered  to  the  Siebenge- 
birges  where  he  met  the  famous  armorer  Mimer,  and  decided  to  go 
with  him  as  an  apprentice.  He  quarreled  with  the  workmen ;  and 
was  of  no  use  as  an  armorer,  for  he  cut  through  all  the  iron  he  tried 
to  work,  and  drove  his  anvil  into  the  ground  by  his  powerful  blows. 
In  order  to  get  rid  of  liim,  Mimer  sent  him  into  the  wood  to  burn 
charcoal.  Near  the  place  was  a  fearful  dragon  who  had  formerly 
been  the  giant  Fafner,  but  on  account  of  his  cruelty,  had  been  trans- 
formed, and  now  watched  some  jewels  and  treasures  which  were  in 
a  hollow  cave.  Just  as  Siegfried  had  his  kiln  well  burning  the 
dragon  came  to  attack  him,  and  it  afforded  him  great  pleasure  to  see 
the  monster,  for  it  gave  hope  of  just  such  an  adventure  as  he  de- 
sired. He  came  on  with  jaws  wide  open,  intending  to  swallow 
Siegfried,  who,  however,  was  of  quite  a  different  mind,  for  he  thrust 
a  burning  oak  down  his  throat,  which  threw  him  into  great  agony. 
The  dragon  then  endeavored  to  kill  him  by  a  blow  from  his  tail, 
but  Siegfried,  full  of  courage  and  strength,  managed  to  cut  off  his 
head,  and  threw  the  carcass  into  the  fire.  Soon  a  stream  of  fat  ran 
out,  and  a  little  bird,  sitting  on  a  tree  above  him,  sang  to  him  that 
if  he  should  bathe  in  the  dragon's  blood,  it  would  render  him  invul- 
nerable and  no  sword  could  harm  him.  He  did  not  fail  to  profit  by 
this  advice,  and  threw  himself  naked  into  the  stream  and  anointed 
himself  completely,  with  the  exception  of  a  spot  on  his  shoulder, 
where  a  leaf  had  fallen  from  a  tree  and  adhered  without  his  knowl- 
edge.   He  took  the  head  of  the  dragon  and  returned  to  the  forge, 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


415 


where  he  killed  the  malicious  Mimer,  and  selecting  a  fine  sword  and 
complete  suit  of  armor,  he  mounted  the  racer  Grani,  and  rode  in 
search  of  still  other  adventures.  He  travelled  down  the  Rhine  until 
he  came  to  the  sea,  where  he  embarked  on  a  vessel  ready  to  sail. 
A  storm  drove  it  upon  a  rocky,  rough  coast.  His  good  horse  climbed 
well  and  brought  him  to  a  castle  surrounded  with  flames.  He  knew 
not  what  to  do,  but  the  little  bird  again  sang  and  directed  him  to 
leap  into  the  flames,  and  he  would  find  a  spell-bound  maiden  whom 
he  should  release  from  the  power  of  the  magician  who  held  her. 
Siegfried  obeyed,  and  as  soon  as  he  made  the  leap  the  flames  were 
extinguished  and  he  entered  the  castle.  Everything  here  was  as 
rich  and  splendid  as  could  be  imagined,  but  the  stillness  of  death 
was  on  all,  the  servants  were  in  the  position  in  which  they  had  been 
at  the  moment  of  enchantment.  The  cook  before  the  fire ;  the  but- 
ler pouring  a  glass  of  wine ;  the  grooms  before  the  horses,  and  even 
the  animals  immovable  before  their  mangers.  At  length  he  entered 
a  hall  where  a  beautiful  maiden  slept  on  a  divan,  and  was  bound 
with  brass  bands.  Siegfried  cut  the  bands ;  he  then  kissed  the  rosy 
lips,  and  instantly  everything  began  to  move,  for  his  kiss  broke  the 
spell  which  had  endured  for  a  century.  Then  Siegfried  hoped  for 
the  rewards  of  love,  and  that  Brunhilde  would  consent  to  be  his ; 
but  she  wished  not  to  be  too  easily  won,  and  she  enchanted  him  for 
a  long  time  without  consenting  to  his  wishes,  until  finally  his  restless 
spirit  demanded  more  change,  and  the  little  bird  constantly  sung  to 
him  of  the  delights  of  Nibelungenlande  ;  of  great  deeds  to  be  per- 
formed ;  of  other  beautiful  women  to  be  loved,  and  of  daring  adven- 
tures to  be  enjoyed.  So  he  left  the  enchanted  castle,  stealing  away 
by  night,  with  the  bird  for  his  guide,  who  hopped  from  limb  to  limb, 
and  sang  when  he  rested,  of  the  beautiful  country  to  which  he  went, 
and  of  the  great  treasures  hidden  there ;  of  a  sword  and  cap 
which  he  could  obtain.  The  first  should  kill  all  his  enemies,  and 
the  latter  make  him  invisible  whenever  he  chose  to  put  it  on.  Sieg- 
fried became  impatient  to  reach  this  land.  Wlien  at  last  he  did  so 
he  stretched  himself  on  the  ground  fatigued  from  his  long  journey. 
As  he  laid  there  a  troop  of  dwarfs  surrounded  him  to  make  him  a 
prisoner.  But  he  bound  Alberich,  their  leader,  and  compelled  him 
to  tell  where  the  cap  and  sword  were  kept.  But  to  gain  possession 
of  them  was  not  easy  even  then,  for  he  had  to  overcome  the  giant 
Wolfgrambar,  who  was  the  keeper  of  a  subterranean  treasury.  But 
he  was  forced  to  deliver  the  sword  Balmung  to  Siegfried,  and  when 
he  had  also  obtained  the  cap  he  released  Alberich.  Here  he  slew 
another  dragon  which  guarded  immense  treasures.  After  a  time  he 
longed  for  home  and  returned  to  Xanten,  where  his  parents  received 
him  with  joy.  For  other  adventures  of  Siegfried,  see  Worms.  To 
those  interested  in  German  legendary  lore,  the  "  Nibelungenlied  " 
offers  much  entertainment. 


416 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


Yburg.  Many  ghost  stories  are  connected  with  this  castle,  and 
it  seems  a  fitting  home  for  such  people.  Besides  it  is  said  that  the 
monks  put  all  the  ghosts  and  goblins  of  Baden  in  a  bag  and  trans- 
ported them  to  Yburg,  which  was  certainly  a  clever  proceeding,  and 
the  locality  for  their  future  home  well  chosen.  Here  too  the  de- 
scendant of  Gustav  Wasa  had  his  laboratory  and  in  connection  with 
Pestalozzi  pursued  his  alchemical  studies.  The  last  representative 
of  the  family  who  built  Yburg  was  a  wild  and  reckless  fellow  and 
largely  in  debt  while  still  a  young  man.  After  a  violent  scene  with 
his  creditors,  he  dreamed  that  he  had  discovered  great  treasures  in 
the  sepulchral  vaults  of  his  ancestors.  He  descended  there,  and 
finding  nothing,  though  he  broke  open  many  coffins,  he  began  to 
curse  his  ancestors  that  they  did  not  furnish  him  with  all  he  needed. 
In  the  midst  of  his  fury  a  dreadful  figure  rose  from  the  earth,  and 
towered  to  the  roof.  The  young  man  fell  on  his  knees  imploring 
God  and  all  the  saints,  while  the  goblin  laughed.  Then  he  made  a 
vow  that  he  would  become  a  hermit  and  lead  a  holy  life  from  that 
day,  and  from  one  of  the  coffins  came  a  voice  like  that  of  a  child, 
reminding  him  to  seek  only  his  salvation,  as  his  days  were  numbered. 
The  demon  vanished  in  a  flash  of  lightning  which  split  one  of  the 
towers  from  top  to  bottom.  The  knight  kept  his  word,  and  though 
the  vault  supplied  him  no  earthly  treasures,  his  visit  there  so  changed 
his  life  as  to  gain  for  him  those  of  heaven. 

Yburg.    Burkhardt  Keller  of.    See  Baden-Baden. 

Zahringen.  Origin  of  the  Castle.  Many  years  ago  a  young 
charcoal-burner  lived  in  the  valley  at  the  foot  of  the  Kosskopf.  He 
was  worthy  and  industrious  but  never  liked  his  employment,  and 
would  many  times  have  resigned  it  but  for  the  sake  of  his  aged 
parents.  After  their  death  he  was  one  day  at  a  town  where  a  tour- 
nament was  held,  and  was  so  in  love  with  what  he  saw  that  he  deter- 
mined to  try  if  he  could  not  enlist  in  the  service  of  some  brave 
knight.  As  he  thought  upon  this  after  reaching  home,  an  old  man 
came  to  him  and  said  that  he  well  knew  what  he  meditated,  but  that 
the  time  had  not  yet  come  for  him  to  go  away,  but  that  he  must 
change  his  location  to  a  place  that  he  would  show  him.  He  followed 
the  old  man,  who  led  him  to  a  neighboring  forest  and  vanished.  The 
young  man  made  a  kiln  where  he  had  been  directed,  and  when  it 
was  b Limed  he  found  several  pieces  of  gold  which  the  fire  had  drawn 
from  the  rocks,  and  this  result  he  obtained  time  after  time.  He  be- 
came so  rich  that  he  began  to  be  anxious  as  to  how  he  should  remove 
his  gold  and  in  what  he  should  invest  it.  One  evening  a  man 
knocked  at  the  door  of  his  hut,  desiring  lodging  and  refreshment. 
At  first  the  young  man  hesitated,  but  the  stranger  told  him  that  mis- 
fortune alone  had  driven  him  there,  and  at  length  he  admitted  him. 
He  remained  several  days,  and  by  observing  the  young  coal-burner 
he  saw  that  he  was  honest  and  trustworthy.    He  then  told  him  that 


LEGENDS  OF  PLACE. 


417 


he  was  his  emperor,  and  having  lost  a  battle  his  treasure  had  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  his  enemy,  and  he  desired  the  young  man  to  guide 
him  to  a  place  of  safety  where  his  friends  awaited  him.  Then  was 
the  young  man  glad,  and  falling  on  his  knees  he  told  the  emperor  of 
his  gold,  and  begged  him  to  accept  it,  and  allow  him  to  become  his 
servant.  The  emperor  was  overcome  with  emotion  at  this  unex- 
pected fortune.  They  proceeded  with  the  treasure  to  where  his 
friends  awaited  him,  and  by  means  of  it  he  was  able  to  levy  a  new 
army  and  retrieve  his  lost  fortunes.  The  charcoal-burner  won 
many  honors  during  the  war  and  was  knighted  on  the  field  of  bat- 
tle. The  emperor  gave  him  the  name  of  Zahringen  and  commanded 
him  to  build  a  castle  on  the  loftiest  peak  near  his  former  charcoal- 
burner's  hut,  which  should  be  for  him  and  his  successors. 
Zuydersee.    See  Stavoren. 


27 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 

WHICH  HAVE  BEEN  ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


AchelO'US.  The  largest  river  in  Greece,  the  god  of  which  is  the 
eldest  of  the  three  thousand  sons  of  Oceanus  and  Tethys.  He  fought 
for  Deianira  with  Hercules,  and  being  conquered  took  the  form  of  a 
bull  and  fought  again,  when  Hercules  took  away  one  of  his  horns. 
Ovid  says  that  the  Naiads  changed  this  horn  into  the  cornucopia  or 
horn  of  plenty.  Achelous  was  a  great  god  in  ancient  Greece  and 
represented  all  fresh  water.  Sirens  are  called  Acheloiades,  daughters 
of  Achelous. 

Achiries  (Pelides,  Peleiades  or  Pehon,  iEacides).  Son  of 
Peleus  king  of  a  part  of  Thessaly,  and  Thetis.  Educated  in  elo- 
quence and  war  by  Phoenix,  in  medicine  by  Chiron.  His  mother 
foretold  that  he  would  die  early  with  great  glory,  or  live  long  with- 
out it.  He  chose  the  first.  He  led  his  troops  to  the  Trojan  war 
in  fifty  ships.  He  was  favored  by  Minerva  (Athena)  and  Juno 
(Hera).  When  Agamemnon  was  forced  to  give  Chryseis  to  her 
father  he  wished  to  take  Briseis  from  Achilles.  Minerva  persuaded 
him  to  surrender  her,  but  he  shut  himself  in  his  tent  and  refused  to 
fight.  Jupiter  (Zeus)  promised  Thetis  that  victory  should  attend 
the  Trojans  until  the  Achaeans  should  honor  Achilles.  So  the 
Greeks  were  unsuccessful.  At  last  they  offered  him  rich  presents 
and  the  restoration  of  Briseis  in  vain.  But  Patroclus  persuaded  him 
to  allow  him  to  use  his  men,  horses,  and  armor.  Patroclus  was 
slain,  and  Achilles  filled  with  grief.  Thetis  promised  him  new  arms 
made  by  Vulcan  (Hephaestus),  and  Iris  implored  him  to  recover  the 
body  of  Patroclus.  When  he  had  his  new  armor  he  put  the  Trojans 
to  flight  by  the  sound  of  his  voice  and  chased  Hector  three  times 
about  the  walls,  killed  him,  bound  him  to  his  chariot  and  dragged 
him  to  the  Greek  ships ;  but  afterwards  gave  the  body  to  Priam. 


ANCIENT  MYTHS  ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


419 


Achilles  fell  in  battle  before  Troy  was  taken.  He  was  ambitious, 
the  bravest  and  handsomest  of  Greeks ;  hero  of  the  Iliad ;  affec- 
tionate to  friends ;  revengeful  to  enemies,  and  obedient  to  the  gods. 
Various  traditions  relate  that  his  mother  concealed  him  in  the  fire 
to  burn  out  the  mortal  he  had  inherited  from  his  father  and  render 
him  immortal.  His  father  discovered  him,  and  Thetis  fled.  Peleus 
c^ave  him  to  Chiron  to  instruct.  He  tauo;ht  him  huntino^,  ridino;,  and 
music,  and  fed  him  on  the  marrow  of  bears  and  hearts  of  lions. 
Another  way  in  which  it  is  said  Thetis  tried  to  make  him  immortal 
was  by  dipping  him  in  the  river  Styx  ;  his  ankles,  by  which  she 
held  him,  were  not  wet,  and  thus  remained  vulnerable.  When  but 
nine  years  old  Calchas  declared  Troy  could  not  be  conquered  with- 
out him,  and  Thetis  disguised  him  as  a  maiden  and  he  remained 
with  the  daughters  of  Lycomedes  at  Scyros,  where  he  was  called 
Pyrrha  from  his  golden  hair.  Ulysses  came^  here  with  female 
dresses  to  sell  and  arms  concealed  among  them.  Achilles  betrayed 
himself  by  seizing  the  arms  with  great  eagerness,  and  then  accom- 
panied Ulysses  to  the  war.  While  at  Scyros  Deidamia  became  by 
him  the  mother  of  Neoptol- 
emus  or  Pyrrhus.  While  in 
the  war  Achilles  slew  an 
Amazon,  Penthesilea,  and 
fought  with  Memnon  and 
Troilus.  There  are  various 
accounts  of  his  death,  but 
all  agree  that  he  died  not 
by  mortal  hands  but  by 
the  assistance  of  Apollo. 
Some  say  this  god  killed 
him,  others  that  Apollo  as- 
sumed the  appearance  of 
Paris  to  kill  him,  and 
again  that  he  directed  the 
weapon  of  Paris ;  while 
again  it  is  related,  that  he 
loved  Polyxena,  daughter 
of  Priam,  and  went  to  the 
temple  of  Apollo  at  Thym- 
bra  without  arms  and  was 
there  assassinated.  Ajax 
and  Ulysses  rescued  his 
body,  and  his  armor  was 
promised  by  his  mother  to  the  bravest  Greek  (see  Ajax).  After  his 
death  he  became  a  judge  of  the  lower  world  and  dwelt  in  the  islands 
of  the  blest,  where  he  was  married  to  Medea  or  Iphigenia. 


Achilles  seizing  arms  at  Scyros 
(Painting  found  at  Pompeii). 


420 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


'  A'eis.    Son  of  Faunus  and  Symaetliis,  loved  by  the  nymph  Gal- 
atea.   Polyphemus  the  Cyclop,  being  jealous  of  Acis,  crushed  him 
beneath  a  huge  rock.    The  nymph  changed  his  blood  into  the  river 
Acis  or  Acinius  at  the  foot  of  Mount  ^tna. 
Actse'on.    Son  of  Aristseus  and  Autonoe.    Celebrated  as  a 

huntsman.  One  day  coming 
suddenly  upon  Diana  (Arte- 
mis), when  she  was  bathing 
with  her  nymphs,  she  changed 
him  to  a  stag,  and  he  was  torn 
to  pieces  by  his  fifty  dogs  on 
Mount  Cithaeron. 

Admetus.  King  of  Pherse 
in  Thessaly.  He  asked  Pelias 
for  his  daughter  Alcestis,  who 
made  a  condition  that  he 
should  come  in  a  chariot 
drawn  by  lions  and  boars. 
Apollo  assisted  him  to  do 
this.  Apollo  persuaded  the 
Fates  or  Moirae  to  grant  free- 
dom from  death  to  Admetus. 
They  consented  if  his  father, 
mother,  or  wife  would  die  for 
him.  Alcestis  did  so,  and 
was  brought  back  from  the 
lower  world  by  Hercules. 


Actaeon 

Ado'nis. 


(British  Museum.) 

Son  of  Cinyras  by  his  daughter  Smyrna  or  Myrrha. 

He  was  very  beautiful,  and  be- 
loved by  Venus  (Aphrodite). 
He  was  wounded  in  the  chase 
by  a  boar  so  that  he  died. 
The  anemone  sprung  from  his 
blood.  Venus  so  mourned  his 
death  that  the  gods  of  the 
lower  world  allowed  him  to 
pass  six  months  of  each  year 
with  her  on  earth.  His  death 
and  return  were  celebrated  by 
games  called  Adonia  in  Egypt 
and  Greece,  and  referred  to 
the  death  of  nature  in  autumn 
and  its  revival  in  spring,  as  he 
passed  six  months  in  the  lower 
and  six  in  the  upper  world. 
Adras'tus.    Son  of  Talaus,  king  of  Argos.    Expelled  from  Ar- 


Deatli  of  Adonis.    (Painting  from  Pompeii). 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


421 


gos  by  Amphiaraus,  he  fled  to  Polybus  of  Sicyon,  to  whose  throne  hfe 
succeeded.  He  established  the  Nemean  games  ;  was  reconciled  to 
Amphiaraus  and  returned  to  Argos;  married  his  daughter  Deipyle 
to  Tydeus  of  Calydon,  and  Argia  to  Polynices  of  Thebes.  Both 
husbands  fugitives  from  their  native  countries.  He  attempted  to 
restore  Thebes  to  Polynices,  who  had  been  expelled  by  Eteocles,  his 
brother.  Amphiaraus  foretold  that  all  who  fought  should  perish, 
save  Adrastus,  who  had  six  companions,  Polynices,  Tydeus,  Amphia- 
raus, Capaneus,  Hippomedon,  and  Parthenopaeus.  Adrastus  only 
escaped,  and  that  by  the  fleetness  of  his  horse  Arion,  which  Hercules 
gave  him.  Ten  years  later  Adrastus  led  the  six  sons  of  those  who 
fell  to  Thebes,  and  it  was  then  taken  and  destroyed.  .  This  war  is 
called  that  of  the  "  Epigoni,"  or  descendants,  while  the  first  is  styled 
that  of  the  "  Seven  against  Thebes."  ^gialeus  was  the  only  Ar- 
give  hero  who  fell,  and  his  father,  Adrastus,  so  grieved  at  this  that 
he  died  at  Megara  before  he  reached  Argos,  and  was  there  buried. 

JE'geus.  Son  of  Pandion.  He  was  King  of  Athens,  and  was 
driven  away  by  the  fifty  sons  of  Pallas.  He  was  father  of  Theseus 
by  ^thra  at  Troezen.  Theseus  came  to  Athens  and  restored  his 
father  to  the  throne.  When  Theseus  went  to  Crete  to  deliver  Athens 
from  the  tribute  to  Minos  he  promised  that  if  successful  he  would 
hoist  a  white  sail  on  his  return.  He  forgot  to  do  so,  and  ^geus 
threw  himself  into  the  sea  from  grief,  supposing  Theseus  to  be  dead. 
From  this,  according  to  tradition,  comes  the  name  ^gean  Sea. 

iEgis'thus.  Son  of  Thyestes  by  his  daughter  Pelopia.  Atreus, 
his  uncle,  had  dethroned  his  father,  and  ^gisthus  restored  Thyestes 
to  the  throne  by  killing  Atreus.  He  did  not  go  to  the  Trojan  War, 
and  while  Agamemnon  was  gone  he  seduced  his  wife  Clytasmnestra, 
and  murdered  her  husband  on  his  return.  He  reigned  seven  years 
in  Mycense,  and  then  Orestes  the  son  of  Agamemnon  slew  him  to 
avenge  his  father's  disgrace  and  death. 

-Slne'as.  Son  of  Anchises  and  Aphrodite  (Yenus),  born  on 
Mount  Ida.  Beloved  of  gods  and  men.  Did  not  go  to  the  war  till 
Achilles  drove  away  his  flocks  from  Mount  Ida.  From  that  time  he 
appears  with  Hector  as  hero  of  the  Trojans.  When  wounded  by  Dio- 
medes,  Yenus  carried  him  ofl*,  and  when  about  to  perish  by  the  hand 
of  Achilles,  Neptune  (Poseidon)  saved  him.  Homer  evidently  rep- 
resents ^neas  as  reigning  at  Troy  after  the  fall  of  the  house  of 
Priam,  but  other  accounts  say  that  he  went  to  Mount  Ida  with  friends 
and  the  images  of  the  household  gods,  especially  Pallas  (Palladium), 
and  thence  crossed  to  Latium  in  Italy,  and  thus  became  the  ances- 
tral hero  of  the  Romans.  Yirgil  makes  him  first  visit  Epirus  and 
Sicily,  and  then  Dido  on  the  coast  of  Africa  (See  Dido).  Then 
arriving  at  Latium  he  married  Lavinia,  daughter  of  Latinus,  king  of 
the  Aborigines.  He  founded  the  town  of  Lavinium.  Turnus  had 
been  betrothed  to  Lavinia,  and  made  war  on  ^neas,  who  slew  him. 


422 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


Latinus  was  also  killed  in  tlie  battle,  so  that  JEneas  was  king  of  the 
Trojans  and  Aborigines.  Soon  after  he  was  killed  in  a  battle  with 
the  Rutulians.  His  body  could  not  be  found,  and  it  was  believed 
that  he  was  carried  to  heaven,  or  perished  in  the  river  Numicius. 

JEs^chines.  Son  of  Atrometus  and  Glaucothea.  Born  b.  c.  389. 
Athenian  orator.  Sent  on  embassies  to  Philip  of  Macedonia  with 
Demosthenes.  Deserted  to  the  Macedonian  party.  Established 
school  at  Rhodes.    Died  at  Samos. 

JEscula'pius  (Asclepius).  God  of  Medicine.  Homer  does 
not  make  him  a  god,  but  a  "blameless  physician."  His  ^[ather  Apollo 
was  told  by  a  raven  before  his  birth  that  his  mother  Coronis  was 
false,  and  loved  Ischys  an  Arcadian.  Apollo  killed  them  both,  and 
when  the  body  of  Coronis  was  to  be  burnt  ^sculapius  was  saved 
from  the  flames.  Chiron  cared  for  him,  and  taught  him  hunting  and 
medicine.  He  not  only  healed  the  sick,  but  raised  the  dead,  and 
Zeus  (Jupiter)  killed  him  with  a  thunderbolt,  fearing  lest  men  should 
learn  to  escape  death ;  but  he  placed  him  among  the  stars  at  the 
request  of  his  father.  He  was  married  to  Epione,  and  Homer  speaks 
of  his  sons  Macliaon  and  Podalirius  as  physicians  in  the  Greek  army. 
He  was  worshipped  as  a  god,  for  medicine  was  held  to  be  a  sacred 
and  secret  knowledge.  His  chief  temple  was  at  Epidaurus.  His 
worship  was  introduced  at  Kome  b.  c.  293,  to  avert  a  pestilence. 
Cocks  were  sacrificed  to  him,  and  serpents  were  sacred  to  him,  for 
they  were  believed  to  discover  healing  herbs,  and  were  a  symbol  of 
renovation.    Plis  descendants  were  called  Asclepiadae. 

Agamem'non.  Son  of  Plisthenes  and  Aerope  or  Eriphyle. 
Grandson  of  Atreus,  king  of  Mycenae.  Homer  makes  him  son  of 
Atreus  and  grandson  of  Pelops.  He  was  reared  in  the  house  of 
Atreus,  together  with  his  brother  Menelaus  and  ^gisthus,  the  son 
of  Thyestes.  After  ^gisthus  murdered  Atreus  (see  iEgisthus), 
Agamemnon  and  his  brother  went  to  Sparta.  Agamemnon  married 
Clytgemnestra,  daughter  of  Tyndareus.  His  children  were  Iphianassa 
(Iphigenia),  Chrysothemis,  Laodice  (Electra),  and  Orestes.  The 
way  in  which  he  acquired  the  kingdom  of  Mycenae  is  variously  re- 
lated. Homer  says  he  ruled  all  Argos,  but  this  means  Peloponnesus, 
for  Diomedes  ruled  the  city  of  Argos.  When  Helen  was  carried  off 
by  Paris,  and  the  Greeks  went  to  recover  her,  Agamemnon  was  their 
leader.  They  spent  two  years  in  preparation,  and  then  the  fleet 
assembled  at  Aulis  in  Boeotia.  Here  Agamemnon  killed  a  stag 
sacred  to  Artemis  (Diana),  and  she  to  punish  him,  becalmed  the 
fleet  and  brought  a  pestilence  upon  the  army.  To  appease  her  he 
consented  to  sacrifice  his  daughter,  Iphigenia,  but  at  the  moment  of 
the  sacrifice,  Artemis  put  another  victim  in  her  place,  and  carried  her 
to  Tauris.  Then  the  fleet  sailed  for  Troy.  Quarrel  with  Achilles 
(see  Achilles).  Though  not  the  hero  of  the  Iliad,  Agamemnon  was 
commander  of  the  Greeks,  and  though  inferior  to  Achilles,  he  was 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


423 


great  in  dignity  and  majesty.  His  eyes  and  head  like  Zeus  ("Jupiter), 
girdle  like  Ares  (Mars),  breast  like  Neptune  (Poseidon).  Cas- 
sandra, the  daughter  of  Priam,  was  given  to  him  after  the  fall  of  Troy. 

Agla'ia.    »  The  bright  one."    [See  Charites]. 

A'jax  (Aias).  (1.)  Grandson  of  iEacus.  Son  of  Telamon,  king 
of  Salamis.  Sailed  to  Troy  with  twelve  ships.  Achilles  only  ex- 
celled him.  He  fought  with  Ulysses  for  the  armor  of  Achilles  ;  and 
Homer  says  this  occasioned  his  death,  but  later  writers  say  it  made 
him  insane,  and  he  rushed  upon  the  flocks  of  the  Greeks,  fancying 
them  to  be  men,  and  at  last  killed  himself  From  his  blood  a  flower 
bearing  his  initials  (At)  sprung  up.  He  had  Tecmessa  for  his  mis- 
tress, who  bore  a  son, 
Eurysaces.  (2.)  Ajax,  son 
of  Oileus,  king  of  Locris. 
Sailed  to  Troy  with  forty 
ships.  Though  small,  was 
swiftest  of  the  Greeks  next 
to  Achilles,  and  skilled  in 
throwing  the  spear.  Re- 
turning from  Troy  was 
shipwrecked,  but  was  put 
on  a  rock  by  Neptune 
(Poseidon).  He  boasted 
that  he  would  escape  in 
spite  of  the  gods.  Nep- 
tune then  split  the  rock, 
and  Ajax  was  drowned. 
This  is  the  account  of 
Homer.  Virgil  says  he 
violated  Cassandra  in  the 
temple  of  Minerva  (Athe- 
na), on  the  night  of  the 
fall  of  Troy,  and  thus  incurred  the  anger  of  that  goddess. 

Alces'tis  (Alceste).    Wife  of  Admetus.    See  Admetus. 

Alcme'ne  (Alcmena),  daughter  of  Electryon,  king  of  Mycenae. 
Her  brothers  were  slain  by  Pterelaus,  and  she  promised  to  marry 
Amphitryon  if  he  would  avenge  their  death.  While  he  was  gone  to 
do  this  Zeus  (Jupiter)  visited  Alcmena,  and  pretending  to  be  her 
husband,  told  how  he  had  punished  Pterelaus.  She  became  the 
mother  of  Hercules  by  Jupiter.  Next  day  Amphitryon  returned. 
To  him  she  bore  Iphicles. 

Althse'a,  daughter  of  Thestius,  and  called  Thestias.  Wife  of 
CEneus  and  mother  of  Meleager,  called  also  Thestiades.  She  killed 
herself  when  Meleager  died. 

Amaz'ones  (Amazonldes).    A  mythical  race  of  warlike  women. 


Ajax  (^gina  Marbles). 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


Said  to  come  from  tlie  Caucasus  and  to  found  Themiscyra  in  Asia 
Minor.  Often  occur  in  Greek  mythology.  Ruled  by  a  queen.  Had 
their  right  breasts  cut  off  to  enable  them  to  use  the  bow  with  ease. 


Amazons.    (Sarcophagus  at  Rome.) 


Achilles  killed  the  Queen  Penthesilea  at  Troy.  They  invaded  Attica 
in  the  reign  of  Theseus.  One  of  the  labors  of  Hercules  was  to  de- 
prive their  Queen  Hippolyte  of  her  girdle.    See  Hercules. 

Amphi'on.  Twin 
brother  of  Zethus.  Son 
of  Jupiter  (Zeus)  and 
Antiope.  Born  on  Mount 
Cithaeron,  and  reared  with 
the  shepherds.  Lycus,  the 
husband  of  Antiope,  had 
treated  her  with  great 
cruelty  and  married  Dirce 
in  her  stead.  He  then 
reigned  at  Thebes ;  and 
the  twin  brothers,  march- 
ing against  him,  killed  both 
him  and  Dirce  to  avenge 
their  mother.  They  tied 
Dirce  to  a  bull,  who 
dragged  her  to  death. 
They  then  threw  her  body 
into  a  fountain,  which  was 
afterward  called  by  her 
name.  Hermes  (Mercury) 
gave  Amphion  a  lute,  and 
he  played  it  so  skillfully 
as  to  charm  the  stones, 
and  they  moved  and  built 
a  wall  about  Thebes.  He 


Amphion  and  Zethus.   (Sculpture  at  Rome.) 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


425 


married  Niobe,  and  when  Apollo  killed  the  sons  she  had  borne  him, 
Amphion  destroyed  himself.     See  Niobe. 

Amphitri'te.  Wife  of  Nep- 
tune (Poseidon).  An  Oceanid 
or  Nereid.  Mother  of  Triton. 
Goddess  of  the  sea,  especially 
of  the  Mediterranean. 

Anehi'ses.  Son  of  Capys 
and  Themis,  daughter  of  Ilus, 
King  of  Dardanus.  His  great 
beauty  won  the  love  of  Yenus 
(Aphrodite).  She  bore  him 
-^neas,  who  is  also  called  An- 
chisiades.  The  goddess  struck 
him  blind  with  lightning  for 
boasting  of  his  intercourse  with 
her.  When  Troy  was  burned 
by  the  Greeks,  -^neas  bore 
Anchises  away  on  his  shoul- 
ders. He  died  at  Sicily  and 
was  buried  on  Mount  Eryx. 

Androm'ache  (Andromacha).  Daughter  of  Eetion,  king  of  the 
Cilician  Thebes.  Wife  of  Hector  and  mother  of  his  son  Scaman- 
drius  (Astyanax),  who  was  hurled  from  the  walls  of  Troy  when  it 
was  captured.  Andromache  fell  to  the  share  of  Neoptolemus  (Pyr- 
rhus),  son  of  Achilles.  He  took  her  to  Epirus  and  she  afterward 
married  Helenus,  brother  of  Hector,  and  ruler  of  Chaonia. 

Androm'eda  (Andromede)  Daughter  of  Cepheus,  king  of  Ethi- 
opia, and  Cassiopea.  Her  mother  declared  her  to  be  more  beautiful 
than  the  Nereids,  and  in  revenge  Neptune  (Poseidon)  sent  a  sea- 
monster  to  ravage  the  country.  The  oracle  of  Amnion  said  that 
Andromeda  must  be  given  to  the  monster  to  save  the  country. 
Cepheus  chained  her  to  a  rock  by  the  sea,  it  is  said  where  Jaffa 
now  stands.  Perseus  slew  the  monster,  and  took  her  for  his  wife ; 
but  as  she  had  been  promised  to  Phineus,  he  came  with  his  associ- 
ates to  the  wedding  to  fight  with  Perseus,  who  slew  him  and  all  his 
friends.    After  death  she  was  placed  among  the  stars. 

Antin'ous.  Son  of  Eupithes  of  Ithaca.  A  suitor  of  Penelope. 
Slain  by  Ulysses. 

Anti'ope.  (l .)  Daughter  of  Nycteus.  Mother  of  Amphion  and 
Zethus.  (See  Amphion.)  (2.)  An  Amazon  and  sister  of  Queen 
Hippolyte.    Wife  of  Theseus  and  mother  of  Hippolytus. 

Antis'thenes.  An  Athenian  and  founder  of  the  Cynic  philoso- 
phy. Disciple  of  Gorgias  and  Socrates,  at  whose  death  he  was 
present.  His  mother  was  a  Thracian,  and  he  taught  in  the  Cynos- 
arges,  a  gymnasium  for  those  born  of  foreign  mothers,  on  account 


Dirce,  (Naples). 


426 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


of  which  his  followers  probably  received  the  title  of  Cynics.  He 
opposed  Plato,  as  he  did  not  allow  speculation,  and  taught  that  virtue 
is  the  sole  necessity  of  man.  The  Stoics  sprung  from  his  school. 
Died  at  Athens,  aged  seventy. 

Aphrodi'te  f Venus).  Homer  makes  her  the  daughter  of  Jupiter 
(Zeus)  and  Dione.  But  later  writers  relate  that  she  sprung  from 
the  foam  of  the  sea.  Wife  of  Vulcan  (Hephaestus),  to  whom  she 
was  faithless,  and  loved  the  gods  Mars  (Ares),  Bacchus  (Dionysus), 
Mercury  (Hermes),  and  Neptune  (Poseidon),  also  the  mortals 
Anchises  and  Adonis.  She  received  the  prize  of  beauty  (see  Paris.) 
She  had  the  power  to  grant  beauty,  and  whoever  wore  her  magic 
girdle  became  an  object  of  love  and  desire.  The  sparrow,  swan, 
iynx,  swallow,  and  dove,  served  her  as  messengers,  and  to  draw  her 
chariot.  The  rose,  poppy,  myrtle,  and  apple  were  sacred  to  her. 
She  is  seldom  represented  without  her  son  Eros  (Cupid).  Her 
worship  came  from  the  East,  and  the  islands  of  Cyprus  and  Cythera 
were  the  places  in  Greece  where  she  was  most  considered,  and  from 
these  her  worship  spread  to  all  the  country.  She  is  thought  to  be 
identical  with  Astarte  or  the  Ashtoreth  of  the  Hebrews. 

Apollo.  Celebrated  Grecian  divinity.  Son  of  Jupiter  (Zeus) 
and  Leto  (Latona).  Twin  brother  of  Diana  (Artemis).  Born  in 
the  island  of  Delos,  where  the  jealousy  of  Juno  (Hera)  had  driven 
Leto.  (See  Leto.)  He  has  many  offices,  and  is —  (1.)  The  god  of  pun- 
ishment; represented  with  a  bow  and  arrows.  Sudden  deaths  were 
attributed  to  his  arrows,  and  with  them  he  sent  plagues  into  the 
Greek  camp  before  Troy.  (2.)  He  wards  off  evil  and  grants  aid. 
Tn  this  character  he  is  father  of  iEsculapius  and  was  identified  with 
Paeeon,  god  of  the  healing  art  in  the  Iliad.  (3.)  God  of  prophecy. 
He  had  numerous  oracles,  the  chief  one  being  that  of  Delphi ;  hence 
he  is  called  the  Pythian  Apollo,  as  Pytho  was  the  ancient  name  of 
Delphi.  He  gave  the  power  of  prophecy  to  gods  and  men.  (4.) 
God  of  music.  Li  the  "  Iliad  "  he  plays  the  phorminx,  and  gave  the 
power  of  song  to  the  Homeric  bards.  In  this  office  he  is  in  close 
relation  with  the  Muses,  and  is  styled  Musagetes.  He  is  said  to 
have  invented  the  flute,  and  to  have  received  the  lyre  from  Mercury 
(Hermes).  (See  Midas,  Marsyas.)  (5.)  Protector  of  flocks  and  herds. 
Homer  says  little  of  this  attribute  of  Apollo,  but  later  he  is  repre- 
sented as  tending  the  flocks  of  Admetus.  (6.)  The  especial  deity  of 
tiiose  who  found  towns  and  make  civil  constitutions.  The  Greeks 
never  founded  a  town  or  colony  without  consulting  his  oracle.  (7.) 
God  of  the  sun.  Homer  makes  him  entirely  distinct  from  Helios, 
but  later  writers  and  the  influence  of  other  nations  maintain  this 
attribute.  He  was  the  chief  Grecian  god,  but  not  worshipped  by 
the  early  Romans,  which  latter  nation  were  in  later  times  instructed 
concerning  him  by  the  Greeks.  The  ludi  Apollinares  were  insti- 
tuted in  212,  during  the  second  Punic  war. 


ILLUSTRATED  LN  ART. 


427 


A'res  (Mars).  Son  of  Jupiter  (Zeus)  and  Juno  (Hera).  Greek 
god  of  war.  One  of  the  Olympian  divinities.  So  savage  in  his 
nature,  and  so  delighting  in  war  and  destruction,  that  he  was  hated 
by  other  gods,  and  even  by  his  parents.  He  was  wounded  by  Dio- 
medes,  assisted  by  Minerva  (Athena),  and  he  roared  like  ten  thousand 
warriors.  The  Aloidae  conquered  him  and  kept  him  confined  thirteen 
months,  till  Hermes  (Mercury)  released  him.  He  fought  concerning 
his  son  Cycnus  with  Hercules,  who  conquered  him,  and  compelled  him 
to  retire  to  Olympus.  Aphrodite  (Yenus)  loved  him.  Later  tradi- 
tions relate  that  when  Halirrhothius,  the  son  of  Neptune  (Poseidon), 
offered  violence  to  Alcippe  the  daughter  of  Ares,  he  was  killed  by 
her  father.  He  was  for  this  accused  by  Poseidon  before  the  Olym- 
pian gods  who  were  assembled  in  the  Areopagus.  He  was  acquitted, 
and  it  is  believed  that  this  event  gave  rise  to  the  name  Areopagus. 
See  Mars,  for  Roman  god  of  war. 

Argonau'tse.  These  were  the  heroes  who  sailed  to  Colchis  (Aea) 
for  the  capture  of  the  golden  fleece.  Pelias,  king  of  lolcus  in  Tlies- 
saly,  wished  to  get  rid  of  Jason  (see  Jason),  and  persuaded  him  to  go 
for  the  golden  fleece,  which  was  hung  on  a  tree  in  the  grove  of  Mars 
(Ares)  in  Colchis  and  guarded  by  a  dragon.  Jason  bade  Argus,  son 
of  Phrixus,  to  build  a  vessel  with  fifty  oars.  It  was  called  Argo  in 
honor  of  the  builder.  Minerva  (Athena)  superintended  the  building 
of  the  Argo.  Hercules,  Castor,  Pollux,  and  many  other  heroes,  went 
with  Jason,  and  after  many  adventures  they  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
river  Phasis.  The  king  of  Colchis,  ^etes,  promised  the  fleece  to  Jason 
if  he  would  yoke  to  a  plough  a  pair  of  oxen  with  brazen  feet  who 
breathed  out  fire,  and  sow  the  dragon's  teeth  which  Cadmus  had  not 
used  at  Thebes.  Medea  the 
daughter  of  this  king,  loved 
Jason,  and  gave  him  power  to 
resist  fire  and  steel,  and  put 
the  dragon  to  sleep.  Jason 
then  took  the  fleece  and 
sailed  away  at  night  with 
his  Argonauts,  taking  Medea 
with  them.  They  were  driven 
in  a  storm  to  Italy,  but  at 
length  reached  lolcus.  See 
Medea,  Jason. 

Ariad'ne  (Ariadna). 
Daughter  of  Minos  and  Pasi- 
phae.  When  Theseus  was 
sent  to  Crete  to  free  Athens 
from  tribute  to  the  Minotaur 
she  fell  in  love  with  him  and 

^'•ave  him  the  thread  to  guide  him  out  of  the  labyrinth. 


Ariadne.    (Painting  from  Pompeii.) 


428 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


took  her  away  under  promise  of  marriage,  but  at  Naxos  she  was 
slain  by  Artemis  (Diana),  according  to  Homer,  but  more  commonly 
it  is  said,  that  Theseus  deserted  her  and  Dionysus  CBacchus)  found 
her,  married  her,  and  placed  the  marriage  crown  he  gave  her  among 
the  stars. 

Ari'On.  (l.)  Born  atMethymna  in  Lesbos.  Inventor  of  dithyrambic 
poetry  and  a  wonderful  musician.  Lived  about  b.  c.  625,  spent  many 
years  at  the  court  of  Periander  at  Corinth.  Went  to  Sicily  to  contend 
in  a  musical  combat,  and  being  the  victor  embarked  for  Corinth  laden 
with  presents.  The  sailors  intended  to  kill  him  to  obtain  his  treasures. 
He  begged  permission  to  play  the  cithara  once  more,  which  he  did, 
invoking  the  gods  for  aid.  The  music  attracted  many  dolphins  about 
the  ship,  and  he  threw  himself  into  the  sea  and  got  upon  the  back  of 
one  of  these,  which  took  him  to  Taenarus,  from  which  he  reached 
Corinth,  and  told  all  to  Periander.  When  the  vessel  arrived,  and 
Periander  inquired  for  Arion,  the  sailors  said  he  had  remained  at 
Tarentum.  Then  Periander  called  him,  and  the  lying  sailors  were 
confounded  at  the  sight  and  punished  by  Periander.  (2.)  A  fabulous 
horse  said  to  have  been  begotten  by  Neptune  (Poseidon). 

Ar'temis  (Diana).  According  to  the  ancient  traditions  twin  sister 
of  Apollo,  daughter  of  Zeus  (Jupiter)  and  Leto  (Latona),  born  at 


Artemis  (Diana).   Gorii,  Mus.  Flor.  vol.  ii.  tar.  88. 


Delos.  She  appears  in  several  characters.  (1.)  As  sister  of  Apollo, 
she  is  a  female  likeness  of  him.  She  has  a  bow,  quiver,  and  arrows, 
and  like  him  sends  sickness,  plagues,  and  sudden  deaths.  Also 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


429 


averts  evils  and  alleviates  suffering.  In  the  Trojan  war  she  was,  like 
Apollo,  the  friend  of  Troy.  She  watched  especially  over  the  young, 
and  because  she  guarded  the  young  of  flocks  came  to  be  considered 
a  huntress.  She  was  never  conquered  by  love.  She  turned  Actaeon 
into  a  stag,  because  he  had  seen  her  bathing,  and  slew  Orion  because 
he  had  made  an  attempt  upon  her  chastity.  With  Apollo  she  slew 
the  children  of  Niobe.  When  Apollo  is  represented  as  Helios  or 
the  Sun,  Diana  is  made  Selene,  or  the  Moon ;  hence  she  is  repre- 
sented in  love  with  Endymion  and  kisses  him  in  his  sleep ;  but  this 
is  not  in  character  with  Diana,  a-^d  is  probably  Selene.  (2.)  The 
Arcadian  Artemis  was  co^"  connected  with  Apollo.  She  was  goddess 
of  the  nymphs  of  the  Arcadian  mo<intains,  and  her  chariot  was  drawn 
by  four  stags  with  golden  antlers.  (3.)  The  Taurian  Artemis.  The 
Greeks  identified  this  goddess  with  their  own  Artemis.  She  dwelt  in 
Tauris,  and  all  strangers  thrown  on  the  coast  were  sacrificed  to  her. 
Iphigenia  and  Orestes  brought  her  image  from  Tauris  and  landed  at 
Brauron,  from  which  she  was  called  the  Brauronian  Artemis,  and 
worshipped  at  Athens  and  Sparta,  at  which  latter  place  boys  were 
scourged  before  her  altar  until  it  was  sprinkled  with  blood.  (4.) 
The  Ephesian  Artemis  is  quite  distinct  from  the  Greek  goddess.  The 
Greeks  found  her  worship  established  when  they  settled  in  Ionia, 
and  they  gave  her  the  name  of  Artemis.  She  is  often  represented 
with  many  bf-easts  (multimammse.)  The  attributes  of  Diana  vary 
according  to  her  different  characters.  As  a  huntress  she  wears  the 
chlamys,  and  her  breast  is  covered ;  legs  bare  to  the  knees.  Has  the 
bow,  quiver,  arrows,  spear,  stags,  and  dogs.  As  goddess  of  the  moon 
she  wears  a  long  robe,  a  veil,  and  above  her  forehead  a  crescent. 
She  often  bears  a  torch. 

Asca'nius,  son  of  -^neas  and  Creusa.  Other  traditions  say  this 
was  the  name  of  the  son  of  Lavinia.  He  went  with  his  father  to 
Italy,  founded  the  city  of  Alba  Longa,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Silvius.  He  was  also  called  lulus  or  Julus,  and  the  gens  Julia  at 
Kome  traced  its  origin  to  him. 

Aspa'sia.  (l.)  Daughter  of  Axiochus  of  Miletus.  She  was  the 
most  celebrated  of  the  Greek  Hetairae.  Having  gained  the  affec- 
tions of  Pericles,  as  much  by  her  mental  as  her  personal  charms,  he 
parted  from  his  wife,  and  lived  with  Aspasia  until  his  death.  Her 
house  was  frequented  by  Socrates  and  all  the  most  learned  men  of 
Athens.  She  was  accused  by  the  enemies  of  Pericles  of  impiety, 
but  his  influence  procured  her  acquittal.  After  the  death  of  Pericles 
it  is  said  that  she  attached  herself  to  a  cattle-dealer  named  Lysicles, 
and  so  instructed  him  that  he  became  a  fine  orator.  (2.)  The  favor- 
ite mistress  of  Cyrus  the  younger,  and  later  of  his  brother  Artaxerxes. 
Her  name  was  Milto,  but  Cyrus  changed  it  to  that  of  the  mistress  of 
Pericles.  At  leagth  Darius,  son  of  Artaxerxes,  loved  her  and  his 
father  made  her  a  priestess  in  a  temple  at  Ecbatana,  where  strict 
celibacy  was  enforced. 


430 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


Atalan'ta  (Atalante).  The  Arcadian  Atalanta  was  daughter  of 
lasus,  lasion  or  lasius,  and  Clymene.  Her  father  exposed  her  in 
infancy,  but  she  was  suckled  by  a  she-bear,  a  symbol  of  Artemis 
(Diana).  When  older  she  joined  in  the  Calydonian  hunt.  She  slew 
the  Centaurs,  who  pursued  her,  and  preserved  her  chastity.  Her  father 
acknowledged  her  and  desired  her  to  marry,  but  she  made  a  condi- 
tion that  he  who  would  be  her  husband  must  excel  her  in  a  foot-race. 
She  was  the  fleetest  of  mortals.  She  outran  many,  but  was  overcome 
by  Milanion,  who  was  assisted  by  Aphrodite  (Venus).  They  mar- 
ried, but  were  changed  to  lions  because  they  profaned  the  grove  of 
Zeus  (Jupiter)  by  their  embraces.  The  Boeotian  Atalanta  has  pre- 
cisely the  same  history,  with  change  of  names  and  localities.  Daughter 
of  Schoenus,  married  to  Hippomenes.  The  race  was  in  Onchestus 
in  Boeotia,  and  the  temple  of  Cybele  the  place  profaned  ;  which  god- 
dess not  only  made  them  lions,  but  compelled  them  to  draw  her 
chariot. 

Athe^na  (Athene,  Minerva,  Pallas,  and  Pallas  Athena).  Daughter 
of  Zeus  (Jupiter),  and  Metis,  whom  Zeus  swallowed  before  the  birth 
of  the  child.  Athena  sprang  from  the  head  of  Zeus  in  complete 
armor,  and  with  a  war-shout.  As  her  father  was  most  powerful,  so 
her  mother  was  wisest  of  all  gods,  and  she  herself  a  combination  of 
power  and  wisdom.  She  was  protectress  of  the  state,  and  all  useful 
arts,  such  as  agriculture,  weaving,  and  others.  Invented  the  plough 
and  rake.  As  goddess  of  wisdom  she  maintained  law  and  order, 
especially  in  courts,  and  is  said  to  have  founded  that  of  the  Areopa- 
gus. As  a  warlike  divinity  she  protected  the  state  from  enemies. 
Was  a  friend  of  the  Greeks  in  the  Trojan  war.  When  the  giants 
fought  Zeus  she  slew  Pallas,  and  buried  Enceladus  beneath  the  island 
of  Sicily.  She  never  loved.  Hephaestus  (Vulcan)  was  compelled 
to  flee  for  making  an  attempt  upon  her  chastity,  and  Tiresias  was 
made  blind  for  seeing  her  in  the  bath.  She  was  the  special  protec- 
tress of  Athens  and  Attica.  She  contended  with  Poseidon  (Neptune) 
for  the  possession  of  Athens.  The  gods  declared  that  the  one  who 
produced  the  best  gift  for  man  should  have  it.  Poseidon  produced 
the  horse,  and  Athena  the  olive.  The  city  was  given  to  her.  As 
goddess  of  war  she  is  in  armor,  and  bears  the  aegis  and  a  golden  staff. 
The  head  of  the  Gorgon  Medusa  is  in  the  centre  of  her  breastplate. 
The  olive,  cock,  serpent,  and  owl  were  sacred  to  her.  The  magnifi- 
cent Panatliencea  was  celebrated  in  her  honor,  and  it  is  the  proces- 
sion of  this  festival  which  is  represented  on  the  frieze  of  the 
Parthenon. 

Atlas.  Son  of  lapetus  and  Clymene ;  brother  of  Prometheus 
and  Epimetheus.  He  was  sentenced  to  bear  heaven  on  his  head 
and  hands,  for  having  joined  the  Titans  in  making  war  on  Zeus 
(Jupiter).  Another  tradition  relates  that  Perseus,  by  means  of  the 
head  of  Medusa,  changed  him  into  Mount  Atlas  which  supports 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


431 


heaven  and  all  the  stars,  because  he  refused  him  a  shelter.  Male 
descendants  of  Atlas  are  called  At- 
lantiades,  especially  Mercury  and 
Hermaphroditus ;  and  females  Atlan- 
tias  and  Atlantis,  particularly  one  of 
the  Pleiades  and  Hyades.  He  was 
father  of  the  Pleiades  by  Pleione  or 
by  Hesperis  ;  of  the  Hyades  and  Hes- 
perides  by  ^thra ;  of  QEnomaus  and 
Maia  by  Sterope.  Calypso,  Dione, 
Hesperus,  and  Hyas,  are  all  called  his 
children. 

Auro'ra  (Eos).  Daughter  of  Hy- 
perion and  Thia,  or  Euryphassa ;  Ovid 
says  of  Pallas.  Wife  of  Tithonus, 
whom  she  carried  off  and  to  whom 
she  bore  Memnon.  She  also  carried 
away  Orion  and  Cephalus.  She  is 
goddess  of  the  dawn,  and  each  morn- 
ing leaves  the  couch  of  Tithonus  to 
ascend  to  heaven  from  the  river  Oce- 
anus,  in  a  chariot  drawn  by  swift  horses 
to  announce  the  coming  of  the  sun. 

AUS'ter.    See  Notus  Atlas.   (Famese  collection.  Naples.) 

Bac'chse,  called  Maenades  and  Thyiades.  The  female  attendants 
on  Bacchus  (Dionysus),  in  his  wanderings  in  the  East.  They 
carry  the  thyrsus,  are  crowned  with  vine  leaves,  and  dressed  in  fawn 
skins.  Also  the  priestesses  who  by  wine  and  other  exciting  causes 
threw  themselves  into  a  frenzy  at  the  festivals  of  Bacchus.  See 
next. 

Bacchus  (Dionysus).  Son  of  Zeus  (Jupiter)  and  Semele, 
daughter  of  Cadmus,  king  of  Thebes.  Hera  (Juno)  appeared  to 
Semele  in  disguise  before  the  birth  of  the  child,  and  urged  Semele 
to  persuade  Zeus  to  come  to  her  in  the  same  manner  as  that  in  which 
he  approached  his  own  wife  Juno.  The  god  complied  most  unwill- 
ingly, and  came  in  thunder  and  lightning.  Semele  gave  premature 
birth  to  the  child,  but  Zeus  sewed  him  up  in  his  thigh  till  he  had 
come  to  maturity.  After  birth  he  was  reared  by  nymphs  of  Mount 
Nysa,  who  were  made  Hyades  among  the  stars  by  Zeus  to  reward 
them  for  this  service.  When  he  was  grown,  Hera  took  away  his 
reason,  and  he  wandered  mad  in  all  parts  of  the  earth.  He  went 
to  Egypt,  Syria,  India,  and  all  Asia.  He  taught  the  people  the 
cultivation  of  the  vine  and  some  elements  of  civilization.  At 
Thrace,  Lycurgus,  king  of  the  Edones,  received  him  ill  (Lycurgus). 
At  Thebes  he  punished  Pentheus,  who  attempted  to  prevent  his  wor- 


432 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


ship,  and  compelled  the  women  to  go  to  Mount  Cithagron,  and  cele- 
brate Bacchic  festivals.  The 
mother  and  aunts  of  Pen- 
theus,  when  in  the  Bacchic 
frenzy,  believed  him  to  be  a 
wild  beast  and  tore  him  in 
pieces.  At  Argos  the  people 
refused  to  receive  him  as  a 
god,  until  he  drove  all  the 
women  mad  to  convince 
them  of  his  power.  At  Ica- 
ria  he  hired  a  vessel  which 
belonged  to  Tyrrhenian  pi- 
rates to  go  to  Naxos.  They 
attempted  to  take  him  to 
Asia  to  sell  him  for  a  slave. 
Then  he  changed  the  oars 
and  masts  into  serpents  and 
liimself  into  a  lion ;  flutes 
were  heard,  and  ivy  grew 
over  the  vessel.  The  sailors 
went  mad  and  pluno-ed  into 

Dionysus  (Bacchus)  (Painting  at  Pompeii).  ,  i  i  i 

the  sea,  where  they  became 
dolphins.  After  thus  showing  himself  a  god  in  various  places,  he 
took  his  mother  out  of  Hades,  and  carried  her  to  Olympus.  Many 
fabulous  beings  are  said  to  be  the  offspring  of  this  god,  but  of  all 
whom  he  loved,  Ariadne  is  most  noted  (Ariadne).  In  the  earliest 
times  Bacchus  was  not  worshipped,  and  Homer  makes  him  merely 
the  teacher  of  men  in  the  cultivation  of  the  vine,  but  as  this  culti- 
vation increased,  his  worship  spread,  and  his  festivals  assumed  a 
wilder  and  more  frenzied  character.  He  represents  the  productive 
and  intoxicating  power  of  nature,  and  wine  is  called  the  fruit  of 
Dionysus,  and  is  a  symbol  of  this  power.  He  also  has  a  more 
pleasing  phase,  for  as  cultivation  of  soil  leads  to  civilization,  he  was 
regarded  as  a  lover  of  law  and  peace.  The  drama  arose  from  the 
dithyrambic  choruses  of  his  festivals ;  thus  he  was  considered  the 
patron  of  theatres.  He  was  accompanied  by  Bacchantes,  or  women 
who  are  represented  as  frenzied,  heads  thrown  back,  disordered  hair, 
with  serpents,  swords,  cymbals,  and  thyrsus  staffs.  Satyrs,  Pans, 
Sileni,  and  Centaurs  were  his  companions.  The  ram  was  the  sacri- 
fice usually  offered  him.  The  dolphin,  ass,  lynx,  serpent,  and  pan- 
ther were  sacred  to  him,  and  in  nature,  the  vine,  asphodel,  ivy,  and 
laurel.  He  is  represented  as  youthful,  languishing,  and  as  one 
slightly  intoxicated. 

Beller'ophon  (Bellerophontes).  Son  of  Glaucus,  king  of  Cor- 
inth, and  Eurymede.    His  name  was  Hipponous,  and  changed  be- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


43.3 


cause  he  slew  the  Corinthian  Belerus.  He  fled  to  Proetus,  king  of 
Argos,  to  purify  himself  from  the  murder  of  Belerus.  Antea,  wife 
of  Proetus,  loved  him,  but  he  rejected  her  advances.  She  then  ac- 
cused him  to  Proetus  of  having  attempted  her  virtue.  Proteus  did 
not  wish  to  kill  him,  but  sent  him  to  lobates,  king  of  Lycia,  father 
of  Antea,  and  desired  him  to  kill  him.  lobates  sent  him  to  kill  the 
Chimasra.     Bellerophon  obtained  Pegasus  and  slew  the  monster. 


Bellerophon  slaying  the  Chimaera  (Hamilton  Yases). 


(See  Chimgera,  Pegasus).  Then  lobates  sent  him  to  fight  the  Solymi, 
the  Amazons,  and  the  bravest  Lycians.  But  he  conquered  all.  lo- 
bates then  gave  him  his  daughter,  and  made  him  his  successor. 
At  length  the  gods  came  to  hate  him,  and  he  wandered,  inconsolable, 
in  the  Aleian  field  and  avoided  men.  Homer  relates  nothing  of  his 
death,  but  later  writers  say  he  attempted  to  fly  to  heaven  on  Pega- 
sus, when  Zeus  sent  a  gad-fly  to  sting  the  horse.  Bellerophon  was 
thrown  to  the  earth  and  became  lame  and  blind  fi:-om  the  fall. 

Bo'reas.  Son  of  Astraeus  and  Eos  (Aurora).  Brother  of  Hes- 
perus, Zephyrus,  and  Notus.  Himself  the  north  or  north-northeast 
wind.  He  carried  Orithyia,  daughter  of  Erechtheus,  king  of  Attica, 
to  his  cave,  which  was  in  Mount  Haemus  in  Thrace.  By  her  he  begot 
Zetes,  Calais,  Chione,  and  Cleopatra,  wife  of  Phineus.  They  are  called 
Boreades.  In  the  Persian  war  Boreas  assisted  the  Athenians  and 
28 


434 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


destroyed  the  fleet  of  the  barbarians, 


Boreas. 

(Bas-relief.  Athens.  Temple  of  the  Winds.) 


At  Athens  the  festival  of  the 
Boreasmi  was  in  his  honor. 

Brise'is.  Her  real  name 
was  Hippodamia  ;  was 
called  Briseis  from  her 
father,  Briseus  of  Lyr- 
nessus.  She  fell  into  the 
hands  of  Achilles,  from 
whom  Agamemnon  took 
her.  This  made  the  quar- 
rel between  the  two  heroes. 
See  Achilles. 

Busi'ris.    A  king  of 
Egypt  who   sacrificed  to 
Zeus   (Jupiter)  all  stran- 
Hercules  slew  him. 

A  huge  giant.    Lived  in  a  cave  on 
upon  all  the  surrounding  country. 


gers  who  fell  into  his  hands. 
Caucus.   Son  of  Vulcan. 

Mount  Aventine  and  preyed 

Wlien  Hercules  brought  the  cattle  he  stole  from  Geryon  in  Spain, 
to  Italy,  Cacus  stole  a  part  of  them  and  dragged  them  to  his 
cave  by  their  tails  while  Hercules  slept.  When  those  remaining 
were  driven  near  the  cave,  the  others  began  to  bellow,  and  Hercules 
killed  Cacus  for  the  theft.  In  honor  of  this  event  Hercules  dedicated 
the  ara  maxima  at  Rome. 

Calli'ope.  The  muse  of  epic  poetry.  Her  attributes  in  art  are 
a  tablet  and  stylus,  and  a  roll  of  paper  or  a  book.     See  Musae. 

Callir'rhoe.  (l.)  Daughter  of  Achelous,  and  wife  of  Alcmseon. 
She  induced  him  to  bring  from  Psophis  the  peplus  and  necklace  of 
Harmonia.  For  this  act  he  was  slain.  (2.)  Daughter  of  Scaman- 
der,  wife  of  Tros  and  mother  of  Ilus  and  Ganymedes,  (3.)  The 
most  celebrated  well  of  ancient  Athens,  was  in  the  southeast  part  of 
the  city  and  is  still  called  Callu'rhoe. 

Callis'to.  An  Arcadian  nymph,  called iVo/iacrina  virgo  from  Mount 
Nonacris  in  Arcadia.  A  companion  of  Artemis  (Diana).  Zeus 
(Jupiter)  loved  her,  and  in  order  to  conceal  this  from  Hera  (Juno), 
he  changed  her  into  a  she-bear.  But  the  truth  did  not  escape  Hera, 
and  she  caused  Artemis  to  slay  Callisto  while  hunting.  Areas  was 
her  son  by  Zeus.  He  placed  her  among  the  stars  under  the  name 
of  Arctos  or  the  Bear. 

Carydon.  A  town  of  ^tolia,  said  to  have  been  founded  by 
^tolus,  or  his  son  Calydon.  In  the  neighboring  mountains,  the  hunt 
of  the  Calydonian  boar  took  place,  and  in  the  poets  we  read  of 
Calyddnis,  a  woman  of  ^tolia,  who  was  Deianira,  daughter  of 
(Eneus,  king  of  Calydon ;  Calydonius  Tieros^  Meleager ;  Calydonius 
amnis,  the  Achelous,  which  separated  ^tolia  from  Acarnania  ;  and 
Calydonia  regna,  Apulia,  for  Diomedes  grandson  of  (Eneus,  king  of 
Calydon  obtained  Apulia. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


435 


Calyp'so.  A  nymph  of  the  island  Ogygia.  She  loved  Ulysses, 
who  was  shipwrecked  here.  She  promised  him  immortality  if  he  would 
remain,  but  he  refused,  and  after  detaining  him  seven  years  the  gods 
compelled  her  to  release  him. 

Can'ace.  Daughter  of  ^olus.  Loved  her  brother  Macareus  un- 
naturally, and  was  compelled  to  kill  herself  by  her  father. 

Caryatides  are  female  figures  that  support  burdens  in  architec- 
ture, and  are  so  called  from  the  women  of  Caryae,  a  town  of  Laconia, 
who  were  reduced  to  abject  slavery  and  degradation  by  the  Greeks, 
because  they  joined  the  Persians  who  invaded  Greece. 


Cassandra  and  Apollo  (Pitture  d'Ercolano). 


Cassan'dra.  Daughter  of  Priam  and  Hecuba.  Twin  sister  of  Hele- 
nus.  Her  beauty  won  the  love  of  Apollo,  who  promised  her  the  gift 
of  prophecy  if  she  would  comply  with  Ms  desires.  She  consented, 
but  having  received  the  gift,- still  refused  to  yield  herself  to  him. 
He  then  ordained  that  no  one  should  believe  her  predictions.  When 
Troy  fell  she  fled  to  the  temple  of  Athena  (Minerva),  but  Ajax  tore 
her  away  from  the  statue  of  the  goddess.  She  fell  to  the  lot  of 
Agamemnon  in  the  division  of  the  booty,  and  he  took  her  to  Mycenae, 
where  she  was  slain  by  Clytsemnestra. 

Cas'tor.  Son  of  Zeus  (Jupiter) ;  brother  of  Pollux.  See 
Dioscuri. 

Ce'crops.    Said  to  have  been  the  first  king  of  Attica.  Husband 


436 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


of  Agraulos,  daughter  of  Actaeus.  Father  of  Erysichthon,  Agrau- 
los,  Herse,  and  Pandrosos.  It  was  during  his  reign  that  Atliena 
(Minerva)  and  Poseidon  (Neptune)  contended  for  Attica,  and  Ce- 
crops  decided  for  the  former.  (Athena).  The  citadel  of  Athens 
was  called  Cecropia  for  him,  said  to  have  been  its  founder.  The 
division  of  Attica  into  tAvelve  communities,  the  introduction  of 
civilization,  the  institution  of  marriage,  the  abolition  of  bloody 
sacrifices,  and  the  worship  of  the  gods,  are  all  attributed  to  Cecrops. 
Another  and  later  tradition  makes  him  a  native  of  Sais  in  Egypt, 
wdio  led  Egyptians  to  Attica  and  thus  introduced  arts  and  civiliza- 
tion there  ;  but  this  is  rejected  by  those  best  able  to  decide. 

Centau'ri,  which  name  signifies  Bull-killers,  inhabited  Mount  Pe- 
lion  in  Thessaly.  Homer  calls  them  savage  beasts,  but  later  they 
are  represented  as  half  men  and  half  beasts,  and  are  said  to  have 


Centaur.    (Bas-relief,  Parthenon,  Athens.) 


proceeded  from  Ixion  and  a  cloud.  They  are  celebrated  for  their 
contest  with  the  Lapithae.  This  arose  at  the  marriage  of  Pirithous, 
and  is  sometimes  connected  with  a  combat  between  the  Centaurs 
and  Hercules  (Hercules.)  They  were  expelled  from  their  home 
and  fled  to  Mount  Pindus.  Chiron  is  most  celebrated  of  their  num- 
ber (see  Chiron).  They  are  represented  as  men  from  the  head  to 
the  loins,  and  the  remainder  of  the  body  like  a  horse  with  four  feet 
and  a  tail. 

Ceph'alus.  Son  of  Deion  and  Diomede.  Husband  of  Procris  or 
Procne.  Eos  (Aurora)  loved  him,  but  could  make  no  impression 
on  him  because  of  his  love  of  Procris.    Eos  then  advised  him  to 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


437 


test  Procris,  and  gave  him  the  appearance  of  a  stranger.  He  thus 
visited  his  wife  with  rich  presents  which  so  tempted  her  that  she 
yielded  to  him.  Cephalus  then  discovered  himself,  and  she  fled  to 
Crete  in  shame.  Artemis  (Diana)  then  gave  her  a  spear  and  a  dog, 
which  were  never  to  miss  tlieir  mark.  She  disguised  herself  as  a 
youth,  and  then  returned  to  her  husband.  In  order  to  obtain  the 
dog  and  spear  Cephalus  promised  to  love  the  youth.  Procris  then 
made  herself  known,  and  they  were  reconciled ;  but  she  was  ever 
jealous  of  Eos,  and  watched  her  husband  when  he  went  out  hunting, 
and  at  length  he  killed  her  accidentally  with  the  unerring  spear. 

Cer'berus.  Son  of  Typhaon  and 
Echidna.  He  is  the  dog  that  guards 
the  entrance  to  Hades,  and  his  den 
is  placed  on  the  farther  side  of  the 
Styx  where  Charon  landed  the  shades 
of  the  dead.  He  has  been  repre- 
sented by  poets  as  having  fifty  and 
one  hundred  heads,  but  later  writers 
give  him  three  heads  with  serpents 
twined  about  his  neck  and  the  tail 
of  a  serpent. 

CeTes.    Goddess  of  the  Earth. 
See  Demeter. 

Char'ites  (Gratiae,  Graces),  were 
three  in  number.  Daughters  of  Zeus 
(Jupiter).  Euphrosyne,  Aglaia,  and 
Thalia.  They  are  the  personifica- 
tion of  grace,  beauty,  and  refine- 
ment.   They  were  in  the  service  of  \^  "| 

other  divinities  and    lent  enjoyment         "cerberus.  (Bronze  Statue.) 

to  life  by  gentleness  and   all  that 

elevates  and  refines.  They  were  companions  of  the  Muses  and 
dwelt  with  them  in  Olympus.  They  especially  favored  poetry.  In 
most  ancient  representations  they  were  draped,  but  in  later  art  they 
are  nude.  They  usually  embrace  each  other,  and  are  maidens  in 
the  bloom  of  life  and  beauty. 

Cha'ron.  Son  of  Erebus.  He  is  represented  as  an  old  man, 
dirty  and  meanly  clad.  He  carried  the  shades  of  the  dead  across 
the  rivers  of  the  lower  world  in  his  boat.  To  recompense  him  for 
this  service  an  obolus  or  danace  was  placed  in  the  mouth  of  every 
corpse. 

Charyb'dis.    See  Scylla. 

Chimse'ra.  A  fire-breathing  monster  of  Lycia.  The  idea  prob- 
ably originated  in  a  volcano  of  this  name  near  Phaselis  in  Lycia. 
It  is  represented  with  the  fore  part  of  a  lion,  the  middle  part  of  a 
goat,  and  the  hind  part  of  a  dragon.     She  made  great  havoc  in  all 


438 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


the  country  about  her  home.  Bellerophon  having  obtained  Pegasus, 
rose  into  the  air  and  killed  the  monster  with  arrows.  In  some  works 
of  art  found  in  Lycia  the  Chimaera  is  represented  like  one  species 
of  the  lion  of  that  country.    See  Bellerophon. 

Chi'one.  (l.)  Daughter  of  Boreas  and  Orithyia  ;  mother  of  Eumol- 
pus,  who  is  called  Chionides.  (2.)  Daughter  of  Dgedalion.  Killed 
by  Artemis  (Diana)  because  she  compared  herself  to  the  goddess  in 
beauty.  Mother  of  Autolycus,  by  Hermes  (Mercury),  and  of  Phi- 
lammon  by  Apollo. 

Chi'ron.  Son  of  Saturn  (Cronus)  and  Philyra.  The  best  of  the 
Centaurs.  Lived  on  Mount  Pelion.  Was  instructed  by  Artemis 
(Diana)  and  Apollo,  and  so  excelled  in  medicine,  hunting,  music, 
gymnastics,  and  prophecy  that  the  most  distinguished  Grecian 
youths  were  given  to  him  for  instruction,  such  as  Peleus,  Achilles, 
and  Diomedes.  The  other  Centaurs  would  have  killed  Peleus,  but 
Chiron  saved  him.  He  was  a  friend  of  Hercules,  but  while  the 
latter  fought  with  the  other  Centaurs  one  of  his  poisoned  arrows 
hit  Chiron.  He  was  immortal,  but  he  gave  his  immortality  to  Pro- 
metheus and  would  live  no  longer.  Zeus  placed  him  among  the 
stars  as  Sagittarius. 

Chryse'is.  Daughter  of  Chryses,  priest  of  Apollo  at  Chryse. 
Taken  prisoner  by  Achilles  in  the  capture  of  Lyrnessus.  She  fell 
to  the  share  of  Agamemnon  in  the  division  of  the  booty.  Her 
father  sought  to  ransom  her,  but  Agamemnon  harshly  repulsed  him. 
Apollo  then  sent  a  plague  among  the  Greeks,  and  she  was  released 
to  appease  the  god.    Her  right  name  was  Astynome. 

Cir'ce.  Daughter  of  Helios  (the  sun)  and  Perse.  Dwelt  in  the 
island  of  ^sea.  Her  mother  was  celebrated  for  her  magic  arts. 
Ulysses  was  cast  upon  her  island,  and  when  his  comrades  drank  of 
the  cup  she  offered  them  they  were  changed  to  swine  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Eurylochus,  who  remained  to  tell  the  truth  to  Ulysses. 
The  latter  had  received  from  Hermes  (Mercury)  the  magic  root 
moly  which  preserved  from  enchantment.  He  drank  the  cup  of 
Circe  without  effect,  and  he  then  compelled  her  to  restore  his  com- 
panions. He  stayed  with  her  a  year,  and  she  bore  him  a  son  Tele- 
gonus,  said  to  have  founded  Tusculum. 

Cli'O.  Muse  of  History.  Represented  standing.  Her  attributes, 
an  open  roll  or  a  chest  of  books.    See  Musas. 

Clytaemnes'tra.  Sister  of  Castor,  Pollux,  and  Helena.  Wife 
of  Agamemnon.  Mother  of  Orestes,  Iphigenia,  and  Electra.  Dur- 
ing the  absence  of  Agamemnon  at  Troy  she  lived  adulterously  with 
j^^gisthus  and  assisted  him  to  murder  her  husband  after  his  return. 
Orestes  slew  both  her  and  ^gisthus  to  revenge  his  father's  dis- 
grace and  death. 

Coryban'tes.  These  were  priests  of  Cybele  or  Rhea  in  Phrygia. 
They  danced  to  the  sound  of  drums  and  cymbals  to  celebrate  her 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


439 


worship.  They  are  sometimes  said  to  have  been  the  nurses  of 
Zeus  (Jupiter)  in  Crete,  because  they  are  identified  with  the  Cure- 
tes  and  the  Idasan  DactyH. 

Cro'nus  (Saturnus).  Son  of  Uranus  and  Ge  (Heaven  and 
Earth).  Husband  of  Rhea.  Father  of  Hestia  (Vesta),  Demeter 
(Ceres),  Hera  (Juno),  Hades  (Pluto),  Poseidon  (Neptune),  and 
Zeus  (Jupiter).  He  detlironed  his  father  and  was  in  turn  de- 
throned by  Zeus.    See  Rhea,  Zeus. 

Cu'pid.  (Eros,  Amor.)  Son  of  Aphrodite  (Yenus)  by  either 
Ares  (Mars),  Zeus  (Jupiter),  or  Hermes  (Mercury).    See  Eros. 

Cy'ane.  A  Sicilian  nymph.  A  playmate  of  Proserpine,  at 
whose  death  she  was  changed  into  a  fountain  through  grief. 

Cyb'ele.    See  Rhea. 

Dsed'alus.  He  personifies  the  earliest  manifestations  of  sculp- 
ture and  architecture  in  Athens  and  Crete,  and  both  these  places 
are  credited  with  having  been  his  home.  He  excelled  in  sculpture, 
and  taught  Calos,  Talus,  or  Perdix,  the  son  of  his  sister ;  but  when 
he  excelled  his  master,  Dsedalus  killed  him.  Daedalus  was  tried 
for  this  murder  by  the  Areopagus  and  sentenced  to  death.  He 
fled  to  Crete,  and  by  his  skill  made  a  friend  of  Minos.  He  made 
the  wooden  cow  for  Pasiphae,  and  when  she  gave  birth  to  the  Mino- 
taur he  constructed  the  labyrinth  at  Cnossus  in  which  to  keep  the 
monster.  For  this  Minos  imprisoned  him,  but  Pasiphae  released 
him,  and  as  Minos  guarded  all  the  vessels  on  the  coast,  Dasdalus 
made  wings  for  himself  and  Icarus,  his  son  (see  Icarus).  Daedalus 
flew  over  the  ^gean  Sea  and  alighted  at  Cumae.  He  then  went 
to  Sicily  to  King  Cocalus,  who  received  him  kindly,  and  when  Minos 
pursued  him  he  was  killed  by  Cocalus  or  his  daughters.  Many 
works  of  art  in  Italy,  Greece,  and  Libya  were  attributed  to  him  as 
well  as  in  the  islands  of  the  Mediterranean  ;  and  the  earliest  images 
of  the  gods,  which  were  made  of  wood,  gilded  and  dressed  in  dra- 
peries of  cloth,  were  called  Dsedala  by  the  Greeks. 

Dan'ae.  Daughter  of  Acrisius,  king  of  Argos,  who  confined  her  in 
a  brazen  tower,  because  it  had  been  prophesied  that  her  son  should 
kill  his  grandfather.  But  Zeus  (Jupiter)  came  to  her  in  the  form 
of  a  shower  of  gold,  and  she  became  the  mother  of  Perseus.  Then 
Acrisius  placed  her  and  the  child  in  a  chest  and  cast  it  into  the  sea. 
The  chest  was  sent  ashore  at  Seriphus  and  they  were  saved  by 
Dictys.  (See  Perseus.)  Italian  traditions  relate  that  Danae  went  to 
Italy,  married  Pilumaus,  built  Ardea,  and  gave  birth  to  Danaiis  the 
ancestor  of  Turnus. 

Dana'ides.  These  were  the  fifty  daughters  of  Danaiis  son  of  Be- 
lus.  His  twin-brother  ^gyptus  had  fifty  sons,  and  Danaiis  fled  to 
Argos  with  his  daughters  because  he  feared  the  sons  of  his  brother, 
but  they  pursued  him  to  Argos  and  demanded  his  daughters  as 
wives.    He  consented,  but  he  gave  to  each  daughter  a  dagger,  with 


440 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


which  to  kill  her  husband  in  the  bridal  chamber.  All  did  this  save 
one,  Hypermnestra,  who  spared  her  husband  Lynceus.  He  after- 
wards killed  Danaiis.  The  Danaids  are  obliged  to  constantly  carry 
water  in  the  lower  world,  and  to  pour  it  into  a  sieve  as  a  punish- 
ment for  their  crime. 


Danaids.    (Mus.  Pio  Clem.  Visconti.) 


Daph'ne.  Daughter  of  Peneus,  the  river  god  of  Thessaly. 
Apollo  loved  her  and  pursued  her,  but  when  about  to  reach  her,  she 
prayed  for  aid  and  became  a  laurel  tree.  On  this  account  the 
laurel  was  the  favorite  tree  of  the  god. 

Daph'nis.  Son  of  Hermes  (Mercury)  by  a  nymph.  He  was  a 
Sicilian  shepherd,  and  learned  to  play  the  flute  of  Pan.  The  in- 
ventor of  bucolic  poetry.  He  was  faithless  to  a  Naiad,  and  she  made 
him  blind.    His  father  then  translated  him  to  heaven. 

Deme'ter  (Ceres).  Goddess  of  the  earth.  Daughter  of  Cro- 
nus (Saturnus)  and  Rhea,  mother  of  Persephone  (Proserpine)  by 
Zeus  (Jupiter).  Without  the  knowledge  of  her  mother  Jupiter 
promised  Proserpine  to  A'idoneus  (Pluto),  and  one  day  as  she  gath- 
ered flowers  on  the  Nysian  plain,  the  earth  opened  and  she  was  car- 
ried off  by  Aidoneus.  Demeter  searched  for  her,  until  Helios  told 
her  the  truth.  Then  she  left  Olympus  in  anger,  and  came  to  dwell 
on  earth,  where  she  blessed  all  who  received  her  kindly,  and  pun- 
ished those  who  did  not.  Then  the  earth  produced  no  fruit,  and 
Zeus  sent  Hermes  (Mercury),  to  bring  back  Proserpine.  Pluto  con- 
sented, but  gave  Proserpine  part  of  a  pomegranate,  which  she  ate. 
Then  Demeter  returned  to  Olympus  with  her  child,  but  the  latter 
having  eaten  in  the  lower  world,  was  obliged  to  pass  one  third  of  the 
year  there  with  Aidoneus.  Now  again  the  earth  brought  forth  fruit. 
This  is  the  account  of  Homer.  Latin  writers  place  the  rape  of 
Proserpine  at  Enna  in  Sicily,  and  say  that  Demeter  changed  Asca- 
laphus  into  an  owl  because  he  was  the  only  witness  of  the  eating  of 
Proserpine  in  Hades.  The  signification  of  the  legend  is,  that  Pros- 
erpine carried  off  is  the  seed  placed  in  the  earth;  when  she  re- 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


441 


turns,  she  is  the  grain  rising  from  the  ground  to  feed  men.  Again 
others  make  it  refer  to  the  burial  of  man  and  immortality.  Other 
incidents  in  the  life  of  Demeter  are  these  :  Poseidon  (Neptune)  pur- 
sued her  and  she  changed  herself  to  a  mare,  but  he  accomplished  his 
desire,  and  she  bore  the  horse  Arion.  She  was  in  love  with  lasion, 
and  conceived  in  a  thrice-ploughed  field  in  Crete ;  Plutus  (Wealth) 
was  the  offspring.  Erysichthon  cut  down  her  grove,  and  she  so 
punished  him  with  hunger  that  he  devoured  his  own  flesh.  The 
Athenians  claimed  that  agriculture  originated  in  their  country,  and 
that  Triptolemus  of  Eleusis  was  a  favorite  of  Demeter,  and  first 
sowed  corn  and  invented  the  plough.  The  festival  of  the  Eleusinia 
at  Athens,  and  of  the  Thesmophoria  in  all  Greece,  were  in  her 
honor.  The  Romans  kept  the  festival  of  Cerealia  in  honor  of  De- 
meter, and  gave  the  property  of  traitors  to  her  temple,  where  the 
decrees  of  the  senate  were  deposited  for  inspection  by  the  tribunes. 
In  art  she  is  fully  draped,  a  garland  of  corn-ears  or  a  ribbon  upon 
her  head,  and  a  sceptre  with  corn-ears,  or  a  poppy  in  her  hand. 
Sometimes  she  had  a  torch  and  basket. 

Dia'na  (Artemis).  At  Rome  her  temple  was  on  the  Aventine. 
There  she  was  goddess  of  light,  and  represented  the  moon.  See 
Artemis. 

Di'do  (Elissa).  Daughter  of  Belus,  King  of  Tyre.  She  was 
married  to  her  uncle,  Acerbas.  Her  brother  Pygmalion  killed  him, 
and  Dido  with  many  noble  Tyrians,  left  their  home  secretly,  and  took 
away  all  the  great  wealth  of  Acerbas.  They  went  to  Africa.  She 
bought  as  much  land  as  could  be  surrounded  by  the  hide  of  a  bull. 
She  cut  this  into  narrow  strips,  with  which  she  measured  the  spot 
where  she  built  the  citadel  of  Byrsa.  This  was  the  commencement 
of  Carthage,  which  rose  rapidly.  A  neighboring  king,  Hiarbas,  be- 
ing jealous  of  her  power,  asked  her  in  marriage,  but  she  was  deter- 
mined to  be  true  to  the  memory  of  Acerbas.  When  she  saw  that 
all  around  her  expected  her  to  marry  the  king,  she  made  a  pretense 
of  sacrificing  to  the  manes  of  Acerbas,  and  when  the  pile  was 
lighted,  she  mounted  it  and  stabbed  herself  in  the  presence  of  the 
people.  Virgil  gives  another  version,  and  makes  ^neas  land  at 
Carthage  and  gain  the  affections  of  Dido,  so  that  when  he  sailed 
away  she  killed  herself  as  above.  But  the  anachronism  is  most  glar- 
ing, as  Troy  was  taken  B.  c.  1184,  and  Carthage  not  founded  until 
B.  c.  853. 

Diog'enes  was  born  in  Sinope  in  Pontus,  b.  c.  412.  A  cele- 
brated Cynic  philosopher.  As  a  youth  he  was  a  disciple  of  Antis- 
thenes  (Antisthenes),  and  became  eminent  for  his  moroseness  and 
self-denial.  In  summer  he  rolled  in  hot  sand,  and  in  winter  he  em- 
braced statues  covered  with  snow.  He  lived  a  most  austere  life  in 
every  particular  :  slept  in  porticoes,  or  in  the  streets,  and  finally 
lived  in  a  tub  belonging  to  the  Metroum,  or  temple  of  the  Mother  of 


442 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


the  Gods.,  On  his  way  to  -^gina  he  was  taken  by  pirates  and  sold 
as  a  slave,  and  when  asked  what  he  could  do,  his  answer  was,  "  I 
can  command  men/'  Xeniades  of  Corinth  bought  him,  gave  him 
his  freedom,  and  made  him  instructor  of  his  children.  At  Corinth 
he  saw  Alexander,  who  said  to  him,  "  I  am  Alexander  the  Great." 
The  philosopher  answered,  And  I  am  Diogenes  the  Cynic."  Alex- 
ander so  admired  him  that  he  said,  "  Were  I  not  Alexander,  I  should 
wish  to  be  Diogenes ;  "  and  when  he  asked  him  if  he  could  do  any- 
thing for  him,  he  said,  "  Yes,  you  can  stand  out  of  the  sunshine." 
Diogenes  died  at  Corinth,  b.  c.  323. 

Diome'des.  Son  of  Tydeus  and  Deipyle.  He  is  called  Tydides. 
Succeeded  Adrastus  on  the  throne  of  Argos.  His  father  died  in  the 
war  of  the  Seven  against  Thebes,  and  Diomedes  fought  in  that  of 
the  ^'  Epigoni."  He  went  to  Troy  with  eighty  ships,  and  was  second 
only  to  Achilles  among  the  Greeks.  Athena  (Minerva)  was  his 
special  protectress.  He  fought  with  Hector,  ^neas,  and  even  the 
Trojan  gods ;  and  thus  wounded  Ares  (Mars),  and  Aphrodite 
(Yenus).  Later  traditions  teach  that  he,  together  with  Ulysses, 
carried  off  the  Palladium  from  Troy,  because  it  was  said  Troy  could 
not  be  taken  while  it  remained  within  the  walls.  When  he  returned 
to  Argos  after  the  fall  of  Troy,  he  found  his  wife  JEgialea  living 
adulterously  with  Hippolytus,  or  according  to  others  with  Cometes 
or  Cyllabarus.  Aphrodite  (Venus)  had  sent  him  this  misfortune. 
He  therefore  left  Argos  and  went  to  ^tolia.  Later  he  attempted 
to  return,  but  a  storm  sent  him  on  the  coast  of  Daunia,  Italy. 
Here  he  settled,  and  married  Evippe,  daughter  of  Daunus.  He 
lived  to  be  very  old  and  was  buried  on  one  of  the  islands  off  Cape 
Garganum,  since  called  Diomedean  Isles.  His  companions  so 
mourned  his  death,  that  they  were  made  birds,  Aves  Diomedeoe^ 
and  would  fly  toward  the  Greek  ships,  avoiding  those  of  the  Ro- 
mans. A  plain  of  Apulia  was  called  Diomedei  Campi,  and  several 
towns  in  the  eastern  portion  of  Italy  were  said  to  owe  their  origin 
to  him.  (2.)  King  of  the  Bistones  in  Thrace.  He  had  mares  which 
he  fed  on  human  flesh,  and  for  this  Hercules  killed  him. 

Diony'sus.    See  Bacchus. 

Dioscu'ri.  Sons  of  Zeus  (Jupiter),  named  Castor  and  Pollux. 
Called  Polydeuces  and  Castores  by  the  Romans.  Homer  makes 
them  the  cliildren  of  Leda  and  Tyndareus,  and  the  brothers  of 
Helen.  They  were  called  Tyndaridae.  But  others  make  them  the 
sons  of  Leda  and  Zeus,  and  born  out  of  the  egg  at  the  same  time 
with  Helen.  (See  Leda.)  Again  Castor  was  called  the  son  of 
Tyndareus,  mortal  and  subject  to  age  and  death ;  while  Pollux  and 
Helen,  children  of  Zeus,  were  like  him,  immortal.  They  had  dis- 
appeared before  the  Greeks  went  to  Troy ;  and  were  buried ;  but 
Homer  says,  came  to  life  every  other  day  and  enjoyed  the  honors 
of  gods.    Their  lives  were  made  remarkable  by  three  events  :  (1.) 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


443 


An  expedition  to  recover  their  sister  Helen,  who  had  been  carried 
off  by  Theseus,  and  placed  in  Aphidnas.  (2.)  They  joined  the  ex- 
pedition of  the  Argonauts,  during  which  Pollux  killed  Amycus, 
king  of  the  Bebryces,  in  a  boxing-match,  and  they  founded  the 
town  of  Dioscurias  in  Colchis.  (3.)  Battle  with  Idas  and  Lynceus, 
sons  of  Aphareus  :  Castor  being  mortal,  was  killed  by  Idas,  whom 
Zeus  (Jupiter)  then  killed  by  a  flash  of  lightning.  Pollux  slew 
Lynceus.  He  then  asked  Jupiter  to  allow  him  to  join  his  brother, 
and  his  request  was  granted,  so  that  he  lived  one  day  among  the 
shades  of  the  lower  world,  and  the  next  among  the  gods.  Another 
tradition  relates  that  Zeus  rewarded  their  brotherly  love  by  placing 
them  among  the  stars  as  Gemini.  They  were  first  worshipped  in 
Sparta,  then  in  all  Greece  and  Italy.  Neptune  (Poseidon)  so  ad- 
mired their  affection  for  each  other,  that  he  gave  them  power  over 
the  waves,  and  they  were  especially  honored  by  sailors.  They  were 
also  regarded  as  patrons  of  poets,  presidents  of  public  games,  and 
inventors  of  the  war-dance.  They  always  rode  on  magnificent 
white  horses,  and  are  thus  represented  in  art,  with  egg-shaped  hel- 
mets surmounted  by  stars.  They  carry  spears.  They  were  wor- 
shipped from  the  earliest  times  at  Rome.  A  temple  was  erected  in 
their  honor  opposite  that  of  Yesta  in  the  Forum.  On  the  15th  of 
July  the  Equites  visited  this  temple  in  a  magnificent  procession. 
Dir'ce.    See  Amphion. 

Dis.  Pluto  and  the  lower  world  are  sometimes  called  by  this 
name,  which  is  a  contraction  of  Dives. 

E'eho.  A  nymph  who  amused  Juno  (Hera)  by  constantly  talk* 
ing  to  her  while  Jupiter  (Zeus)  sported  with  other  nymphs.  When 
Juno  discovered  the  trick  she  changed  Echo  into  an  echo ;  in 
which  state  she  fell  in  love  with  Narcissus,  and  this  love  not  being 
returned  she  pined  away  so  that  nothing  remained  but  her  voice. 

Ege'ria  (^geria).  The  goddess  by  whom  Numa  was  instructed 
concerning  the  worship  to  be  introduced  into  Rome.  She  was  one 
of  the  Camenae  or  prophetic  nymphs  of  the  religion  of  ancient  Italy. 
The  grove  in  which  she  met  the  king  was  dedicated  by  him  to  the 
Camenae  ;  in  it  was  a  well  which  gushed  forth  from  a  dark  recess. 
Tradition  points  out  two  localities  as  sacred  to  Egeria  :  one  near 
Aricia,  and  the  other  near  Rome,  at  the  Porta  Capena. 

Elec'tra  (Laodice).  Daughter  of  Agamemnon  and  Clytaemnes- 
tra.  Sister  of  Iphigenia  and  Orestes.  When  her  father  was 
murdered  by  her  mother  and  ^gisthus,  she  sent  her  brother  Ores- 
tes to  King  Strophius  to  be  reared.  When  older  she  excited  him  to 
kill  their  mother  to  avenge  the  death  of  Agamemnon,  and  herself 
assisted  to  do  the  deed.  Afterward  Orestes  gave  her  in  marriage 
to  Pylades.    Electra  signifies  "  the  brilliant  one." 

Endym'ion.  A  beautiful  youth  who  was  always  asleep.  As  he 
slept  on  Mount  Latmus  his  beauty  touched  even  the  cold  heart  of 


444 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


Selene  (the  Moon),  and  she  came  down  to  him,  kissed  him,  and 
laid  at  his  side.    Various  causes  were  assigned  for  this  eternal 
slumber,  but  it  was  usually  believed  that  Selene  kept  him  thus  that 
she  might  caress  him  without  his  knowledge. 
E'os.     See  Aurora. 

Epicu'rus.  Greek  philosopher,  born  at  Samos  b.  c.  342.  Ee- 
moved  to  Athens  306,  purchased  a  garden  and  established  the 
school  known  as  Epicurean.  He  taught  that  happiness  is  the  sum- 
mum  bonum,  and  that,  the  happiness  which  results  from  virtuous 
living  ;  and  that  virtue  should  be  followed,  not  for  its  own  sake 
but  for  the  happiness  it  brings.  His  doctrines  were  degraded  and 
misrepresented  by  men  of  sensual  natures  who  attributed  to  him  the 
doctrine  that  pleasure  and  indulgence  were  the  highest  good. 

Epimen'ides.  A  prophet  and  poet  who  lived  in  Crete  and 
whose  history  has  been  interwoven  with  many  fables.  It  is  thus 
given  :  As  a  boy  he  was  sent  in  search  of  a  lost  sheep,  and  becom- 
ing weary,  he  fell  asleep  in  a  cave  and  slept  fifty-seven  years. 
When  he  awoke  and  returned  home,  he  was  greatly  surprised  to 
find  how  long  he  had  slept,  and  also  at  the  changes  which  had 
taken  place.  But  his  visit  to  Athens  was  a  reality.  A  plague  had 
been  sent  upon  the  city  on  account  of  the  crime  of  Cylon,  who  had 
seized  the  Acropolis  intending  to  become  tyrant  of  the  city.  Epi- 
menides  being  sent  for  purified  the  city  by  certain  mysterious  cere- 
monies and  sacrifices.  Many  writings  were  attributed  to  him,  and 
Paul  referred  to  him  (Titus  i.  12):  "One  of  themselves,  even  a 
prophet  of  their  own,  said,  *  The  Cretans  are  always  liars,  evil 
beasts,  slow  bellies.' " 

Er'ato.   The  muse  of  Erotic  Poetry.  See  Musas. 

Erichtho'nius.  King  of  Troy.  Son  of  Dardanus.  Father  of 
Tros. 

2.  Erichtho'nius  or  Erech'theus  I.  Son  of  Yulcan  (Hephaestus) 
and  Atthis.  Minerva  (Athena)  reared  the  child  secretly  and  con- 
cealed him  in  a  chest  which  she  gave  to  Agraulos,  Pandrosos,  and 
Herse  with  the  command  that  they  should  not  open  it.  But  they 
disobeyed,  and  when  they  looked  in  saw  the  child  entwined  by 
serpents  or  in  the  form  of  one.  They  went  mad  and  threw  them- 
selves down  from  the  Acropolis.  This  child  was  afterwards  king  of 
Athens  and  his  son  Pandion  succeeded  to  his  throne.  It  is  said  that 
he  introduced  the  worship  of  Athena  (Minerva),  built  her  temple  on 
the  Acropolis  and  established  the  festival  of  the  Panathen^a.  He 
also  decided  in  favor  of  the  goddess  when  she  contended  with 
Poseidon  (Neptune),  for  the  possession  of  Attica.  He  was  the  first 
who  used  a  chariot  with  four  horses,  and  for  this  reason  was  placed 
among  the  stars  as  auriga.  After  his  death  the  temple  called  the 
Erechtheum  was  erected  on  the  Acropolis  and  he  was  worshipped  as 
a  god. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


445 


E'ros  (Cupid,  Amor).  His  mother  was  Aphrodite  (Yenus).  His 
father  is  not  known ;  was  either  Ares  (Mars), 
Zeus  (Jupiter),  or  Hermes  (Mercury).  God  of 
Love.  He  was  a  boy  full  of  tricks,  and  troubled 
gods  and  men  alike.  He  carried  arrows  in  a 
golden  quiver,  and  torches  that  none  could  touch 
with  impunity.  His  arrows  were  of  various  sorts. 
If  golden,  they  kindle  love,  if  lead  they  produce 
the  opposite  effect.  He  had  wings  of  gold  and 
fluttered  as  a  bird.  He  often  had  his  eyes 
covered,  and  was  as  one  blind.  He  is  usually 
with  his  mother.  Anteros  was  the  opposite  of 
Eros,  and  punishes  those  who  do  not  return  the 
love  they  inspire.     See  Psyche. 

Euphros'yne.    See  Charltes. 

Eurip'ides.  Born  at  Salamis,  b.  c.  480,  on 
the  day  that  the  Greeks  defeated  the  Persians  olf  that  isle.  He 
was  in  reality  an  Athenian,  as  his  parents  fled  from  Athens  when 
Xerxes  invaded  Greece.  He  became  distinguished  as  a  tragic 
poet.  He  pictured  men  and  women  as  they  are,  not  as  they  should 
be.  Socrates  greatly  praised  him,  on  this  account.  His  especial 
excellence  was  in  the  tenderness  and  pathos  of  some  of  his  writings. 
There  are  eighteen  of  his  tragedies  yet  known,  omitting  the 
"  Rhesus,"  which  is  not  positively  known  to  be  his.  In  youth  he 
excelled  as  a  gymnast.  He  was  a  friend  of  Socrates.  He  took 
prizes  for  his  plays  in  Athens.  He  died  at  the  court  of  Archelaiis 
of  Macedonia,  aged  seventy-five.  It  is  said  that  he  was  killed  by 
the  dogs  of  the  king. 


446  ANCIENT  MYTHS 

of  Agenor,  king  of  Phoenicia,  and  of  Phoenix.  Zeus  (Jupiter)  fell  in 
love  with  her  beauty,  and  assuming  the  shape  of  a  bull,  mingled  with 
a  herd  near  where  she  played  with  her  maidens.  The  tameness  of 
the  animal  attracted  her,  and  she  got  upon  his  back.  Then  he  went 
into  the  sea  and  swam  to  Crete,  where  he  begot  by  her  Minos, 
Rhadamanthus,  and  Sarpedon. 
Eurydlce.  Wife  of  Orpheus.  See  Orpheus. 
Euter'pe.  Muse  of  Lyric  Poetry.  See  Musa3. 
Fau'nus.  Son  of  Picus,  grandson  of  Saturnus,  and  father  of 
Latinus.  He  gave  oracles,  and  protected  agriculture  and  shepherds. 
He  was  identified  with  Pan,  after  the  introduction  of  the  latter  into 
Italy,  and  represented  with  horns  and  goats'  feet.  Later  writers  use 
the  plural  Fauni.  This  idea  of  plurality  arose  from  the  fact  that  he 
manifested  himself  in  various  ways ;  and  in  the  end  the  Fauni  came 
to  be  considered  the  same  as  the  Greek  Satyrs.  Faula,  his  wife, 
was  the  same  to  the  female  sex  that  Faunus  was  to  the  male. 

Faus'tulus.  A  shepherd  who  saved  the  lives  of  Romulus  and 
Kemus.     See  Komulus. 

Flo'ra.     The  Roman  goddess  of  spring  and  flowers.   Her  festival 
was  kept  from  the  28th  of  April  to  the  1st  of  May,  and  attended 
with  excessive  dissipation  and  lasciviousness. 
Fortu'na   (Tyche).  Worshipped  both  in  Greece  and  Italy.  She 
has  different  attributes,  according  to  the 
characteristic  represented.    With  the  horn 
of  Amalthea,  or  with  Plutus,  she  personifies 
the  plentiful  gifts  of  good  fortune ;   with  a 
rudder,  she  is  guiding  the  affairs  of  the 
world  ;  with  a  ball,  she  represents  the  un- 
certainty of  fortune.    She  was  more  con- 
sidered by  the  Romans  than  the  Greeks, 
and  at  Antium  and  Prseneste  her  oracles 
were  celebrated. 

Galate'a.  Daughter  of  Nereus  and  Doris. 
See  Acis. 

Ganyme'des.    Son  of  Tros  and  Callir- 
rhoe.    Brother  of  Ilus  and  Assaracus.  The 
most  beautiful  of  mortals,  and  on  this  ac- 
count carried  off  to  live  with  the  gods  and 
be  the  cupbearer  of  Zeus  (Jupiter).  This 
is  the  account  of  Homer,  but  others  are  very 
different.    He  is  made  the  son  of  Laome- 
don,  of  Ilus,  of  Erichthonius,  or  of  Assaracus. 
Fortuna.  (British  Museum.)  ^^d  it  is  said  Jupiter,  in  the  form  of  an 
eagle  or  with  the  aid  of  one,  bore  him  away,  and  remunerated  his 
father  for  his  loss  with  a  pair  of  divine  horses.  The  place  from  which 
he  was  taken  is  also  variously  given,  but  the  greater  number  agree 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


447 


upon  Mount  Ida.  He  is  placed  among  the  stars  under  the  name  of 
Aquarius.    In  Latin  he  is  sometimes  called  Catamitus. 

Genius.  A  protecting  spirit,  corresponding  to  a  guardian  an- 
gel. Both  Greeks  and  Romans  believed  in  them,  and  the  former 
called  them  Daemons.  They  were  believed  to  be  the  agents  of 
Zeus  (Jupiter),  dwelling  on  earth  to  fulfill  his  will  and  enforce  jus- 
tice. The  Greek  philosophers  taught,  and  the  Romans  believed,  that 
such  a  being  was  appointed  for  each  mortal  at  birth,  and  the  Ro- 
mans worshipped  them  as  gods  most  holy,  especially  on  their  birth- 
days, when  they  oifered  them  libations  of  wine,  garlands,  and 
incense.  The  bridal  bed  was  called  lectus  genialis,  and  was  conse- 
crated to  the  genius  on  account  of  his  connection  with  generation. 
Every  place,  too,  had  its  genius,  and  on  many  merry  festivals  sacri- 
fices were  offered  to  them.  A  genius  of  place  is  represented  as  a 
serpent  eating  fruit. 


Wine  Genius.    (Mosaic.  Pompeii). 


Germanleus,  Csssar.  Son  of  Nero  Claudius  Drusus  and 
Antonia,  daughter  of  the  triumvir  Antony.  He  was  early  raised  to 
the  honors  of  the  state  by  his  uncle,  Tiberius,  who  adopted  him. 
After  being  in  various  battles  he  had  command  of  the  forces  in  Ger- 
many, and  had  nearly  subdued  the  whole  country,  when  Tiberius 
became  jealous  of  his  power,  and  recalled  him  to  Rome.  He  then 
gave  him  command  of  all  the  Eastern  provinces,  but  placed  Cn. 


448 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


Piso  to  watch  and  thwart  him.  He  died  in  Syria,  and  he  and 
others  beheved  that  Piso  had  poisoned  him.  So  great  was  the 
indignation  at  E-ome,  that  Tiberius  was  forced  to  sacrifice  Piso  to  it. 
Germanicus  was  a  writer,  and  some  of  Iiis  works  were  poems.  He 
had  nine  children,  the  most  famous  of  whom  were  the  Emperor 
Caligula,  and  Agrippina,  mother  of  Nero. 

Ge'ryon  (Geryones).  Son  of  Chrysaor  and  Callirrhoe.  King  of 
Spain.  He  had  three  heads,  or  according  to  some,  three  bodies  united. 
Hercules  stole  his  oxen  and  carried  them  away.    See  Hercules. 

Gor'gones.  These  were  Stheno,  Euryale,  and  Medusa,  three  fright- 
ful maidens,  sometimes  called  Phorcydes,  from  their  father  Phorcys. 
Their  mother  was  Ceto.  They  had  claws  of  brass,  wings,  and  enor- 
mous teeth,  and  hissing  serpents 
about  their  heads  in  place  of  hair. 
Medusa  was  the  only  one  who  was 
mortal,  and  some  legends  relate  that 
she  was  at  first  beautiful,  and  was 
the  mother  of  Chrysaor  and  Pegasus 
by  Zeus  (Jupiter),  in  one  of  the 
temples  of  Athena  (Minerva),  for 
which  the  goddess  changed  her  hair 
to  serpents,  and  all  who  looked  at 
her  were  turned  to  stone.  Athena 
then  placed  her  head  in  the  centre 
of  her  breastplate.    See  Perseus. 


Medusa.    (Marble,  Munich.) 

Gra'tise.  See  Charites. 
Ha'des    (Aides,  Pluto, 


Hades.    (Vatican,  Rome.) 


Dis,  Orcus,  Tartarus).  Son  of  Cronus 
(Saturn)  and  Rliea.  Brother  of  Zeus 
(Jupiter)  and  Poseidon  (Neptune). 
Husband  of  Persephone  or  Proserpina. 
[Demeter].  When  the  world  was 
divided  between  the  three  brothers. 
Hades  obtained  the  abode  of  the 
shades.  He  was  hated  by  mortals, 
and  fierce  in  character.  Black  sheep 
were  the  sacrifice  offered  him,  and 
the  person  offering  turned  away  the 
face.  He  bore  a  staff  with  which  to 
drive  shades  to  his  dominion,  and  to 
show  his  power.  He  had  a  helmet, 
which  he  sometimes  lent  to  gods  and 
men,  which  rendered  the  wearer  in- 
visible. Being  king  of  the  lower 
world,  metals  and  all  the  productions 
of  the  earth  are  his  gifts.  He  was 
in  love  with  the  nymph  Mintho,  whom 
Proserpina  changed  to  the  plant  called 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


449 


mint ;  and  with  the  nymph  Leuce,  whom  he  made  a  poplar  after 
death.  He  is  represented  as  seated  on  his  throne  with  Proserpina. 
He  resembles  Zeus  and  Poseidon,  except  that  his  hair  falls  over  his 
forehead.  He  is  dark  and  gloomy,  and  has  the  keys  of  Hades. 
Cerberus  is  usually  near  him. 

Harpy 'iSB  (Harpies).  These  are  the  robbers  or  spoilers  who 
carried  off  persons.  They  are  said  to  have  stolen  the  daughters  of 
Pandareos.  They  tormented  Phineus  when  he  was  blind,  by  dart- 
ing down  and  stealing  his  food  from  before  him,  or  rendering  it 
unfit  to  eat.  After  being  driven  away  from  Phineus  they  went  to 
the  Strophades,  islands  in  the  Ionian  Sea.  They  are  represented 
as  maidens  with  fair  hair  and  wings ;  also,  as  most  disgusting  birds, 
with  heads  like  maidens  and  long  claws,  apparently  pale  Avith 
hunger. 

He'be  (Juventas).  Daughter  of  Zeus  (Jupiter)  and  Hera  (Juno). 
Wife  of  Hercules  after  he  was  received  among  the  gods,  to  whom  she 
bore  two  sons.  Goddess  of  Youth.  She  filled  the  cups  of  the  gods 
before  Ganymedes  became  cupbearer.  She  was  said  to  have  the 
power  to  make  the  aged  young  again. 

Hec'ate  (Perseis).  The  only  Titan  who  retained  power  under 
Zeus  (Jupiter).  Called  the  daughter  of  Pers^eus  or  Perses,  and 
Asteria.  All  the  gods  honored  her,  and  she  is  identified  with  three 
divinities.  Selene  (Luna),  in  heaven;  Artemis  (Diana),  on  earth, 
and  Proserpina  (Persephone),  in  Hades.  Hence  she  is  called  Tri- 
formis^  Tergemina^  and  Triceps,  She  became  a  goddess  of  the  lower 
world  by  searching  for  Proserpina  [Demeter],  and  remaining  with 
her  as  an  attendant,  when  she  was  found.  She  taught  sorcery  and 
dwelt  near  tombs,  and  where  people  were  murdered  ;  also  where  two 
roads  crossed.  She  wandered  about  with  shades  of  the  dead,  and 
the  whining  of  dogs  was  said  to  give  warning  of  her  approach. 
She  sent  demons  from  the  lower  world  at  night.  Black  female 
lambs,  honey,  and  dogs,  were  offered  to  her  at  Athens;  dishes  of 
food  were  set  out  to  her  where  roads  crossed,  at  the  end  of  each 
month.    She  is  represented  with  three  bodies  and  three  heads. 

Hee'uba  (Hecube).  Daughter  of  Dymas  of  Phrygia,  or  of  Cis- 
seus,  king  of  Thrace.  Wife  of  Priam,  king  of  Troy.  Mother  of 
Hector,  Paris,  etc.  After  the  fall  of  Troy  she  was  made  a  slave  by 
the  Greeks.  She  was  metamorphosed  into  a  dog,  and  threw  herself 
into  the  sea  at  a  place  called  Cynossema,  or  the  "  tomb  of  the  dog." 

Hec'tor.  Son  of  Priam,  king  of  Troy,  and  Hecuba.  Husband 
of  Andromache.  Father  of  Scamandrius.  The  Trojan  hero  in 
the  war  with  the  Greeks.  He  slew  Patroclus.  This  aroused 
Achilles,  who  chased  him  three  times  around  the  walls  of  Troy,  slew 
him,  fastened  him  to  his  chariot,  and  dragged  him  to  the  Grecian 
camp.  Other  accounts  say  he  dragged  him  three  times  round  the 
city.  Zeus  (Jupiter)  commanded  Achilles  to  give  the  body  to 
29 


450 


ANCIENT  MYTHS. 


Priam,  and  it  was  buried  with  great  honors.    Hector  is  one  of  the 

noblest  of  all  who  are  men- 
tioned in  connection  with 
the  siege  of  Troy.  He 
made  even  Achilles  look  to 
his  laurels,  and  withal,  was 
a  good  son,  husband,  and 
father. 

HeFena  (Helene). 
Daughter  of  Zeus  (Jupiter) 
and  Leda.  Sister  of  Castor 
and  PolliLx.  Exceedingly 
beautiful.  While  young 
was  carried  away  to  Attica 
by  Theseus  and  Pirithous. 
While  Theseus  was  in 
Hades,  Castor  and  Pollux 
went  to  liberate  Helen, 
took  Athens,  and  carried 
to  Sparta  not  only  Helen, 
but  iEthra,  the  mother  of 
Hector,  (^gina  Marbles.)  Theseus,  whom  they  made 

a  slave  to  Helen.  When 
she  was  sought  in  marriage  by  all  the  noblest  Greeks,  she  chose 
Menelaus,  and  by  him  became  the  mother  of  Hermione.  She  was 
then  seduced,  and  carried  away  by  Paris.  The  Greeks  who  had 
been  her  suitors  resolved  to  avenge  this,  and  sailed  against  Troy. 
This  war  lasted  ten  years,  and  Helen  is  represented  to  have  had 
great  sympathy  for  the  Greeks.  On  the  death  of  Paris  she  married 
Deiphobus,  his  brother,  whom  she  betrayed  to  the  Greeks  on  the 
fall  of  Troy.  She  then  became  reconciled  to  Menelaus,  and  returned 
with  him  to  Sparta,  where  they  lived  happily  for  some  time.  There 
are  various  accounts  of  her  death.  Some  relate  that  she  and  Menelaus 
were  buried  at  Therapne  in  Laconia;  again,  that  after  the  death  of 
Menelaus,  his  sons  drove  her  out  of  Peloponnesus,  and  she  fled  to 
Rhodes ;  here  she  was  tied  to  a  tree  and  strangled  by  Polyxo.  The 
Rhodians  built  a  temple,  and  dedicated  it  to  her  in  the  name  of 
Helena  Dendritis,  in  order  to  atone  for  this  crime.  Again  it  is  related 
that  she  married  Achilles  in  the  island  of  Leuce,  and  by  him  became 
the  mother  of  Euphorion.  But  Proteus  in  the  "  Odyssey  "  declared 
that  Menelaus  and  Helen  would  not  die  but  would  be  conducted  by 
the  gods  to  Elysium. 

HePicon  A  range  of  mountains  in  Boeotia  crowned  with  snow 
almost  constantly.  Sacred  to  Apollo  and  the  Muses,  the  latter  being 
called  Heliconiades  and  Heliconides,  Here  were  the  sacred  fountains 
Aganippe  and  Hippocrene. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


451 


Helios  (Sol,  Hyperionides,  Hyperion).  He  is  represented  as 
having  two  splendid  palaces,  one  in  the  East  and  one  in  the  West. 
He  starts  in  the  morning  in  a  chariot  drawn  by  four  horses,  which 
feed  at  night  upon  herbs  growing  in  the  islands  of  the  blessed.  He 
sees  and  knows  all  that  is  done  on  earth.  He  it  was  who  disclosed 
to  Vulcan  (Hephaestus),  the  faithlessness  of  Aphrodite  (Venus), 
and  to  Demeter  (Ceres),  the  truth  concerning  Proserpina.  He  is 
sometimes  identified  with  Apollo.  His  daughters  Phaetusa  and  Lam- 
petia  tended  his  flocks,  on  the  island  Thrinacia,  which  was  sacred  to 
him.  In  many  parts  of  Greece  he  was  worshipped,  and  the  Colos- 
sus at  Rhodes  was  a  statue  representing  Helios.  The  cock  was  sacred 
to  him,  and  bears,  bulls,  white  rams,  and  horses.  Goats  and  honey 
were  sacrificed  to  him. 

Hel'Ie.  Daughter  of  Athamas  and  Nephele.  Sister  of  Phrixus. 
His  stepmother  Ino  had  intrigued  to  sacrifice  him  to  Zeus  (Jupi- 
ter), but  his  mother  saved  him,  and  Helle,  by  riding  away  upon  the 
ram  with  the  golden  fleece  which  Hermes  (Mercury)  had  given  her. 
But  Helle  fell  into  the  sea,  which  has  since  been  called  Hellespont 
(Helles-Pontus),  or  Sea  of  Helle. 

Hephses'tus  (Vulcanus).  Son  of  Zeus  (Jupiter)  and  Hera 
(Juno).  Another  tradition  relates  that  he  had  no  father,  and  that 
Hera  gave  birth  to  him  independently,  on  account  of  her  jealousy  of 
Zeus  in  giving  birth  to  Athena  (Minerva)  without  her  aid.  She  so 
disliked  him  on  account  of  his  being  lame  and  weak,  that  she  threw 
him  down  from  Mount  Olympus.  Thetis  and  Eurynome  received 
him,  and  kept  him  nine  years  in  a  grotto  beneath  Oceanus.  He  then 
returned  to  Olympus,  where  he  became  a  great  artist  among  the  gods. 
His  palace  in  Olympus  was  imperishable,  and  glistened  like  stars.  In 
it  was  his  workshop,  with  an  anvil  and  twenty  bellows  which  worked 
at  his  bidding.  He  made  all  the  palaces  of  Olympus,  the  arms  of 
Achilles,  the  necklace  of  Harmonia,  and  the  bulls  of  ^etes.  Later 
traditions  place  the  workshop  on  some  volcanic  island,  and  represent 
the  Cyclops  as  his  workmen.  At  first  he  was  merely  the  god  of  fire, 
but  as  that  was  necessary  to  the  working  of  metals,  he  became  an 
artist  in  metals.  Although  so  cruelly  treated  by  his  mother,  he  took 
her  part  in  a  quarrel  with  Zeus,  when  that  god  seized  him  and  hurled 
him  from  Olympus.  He  was  a  day  in  falling,  and  landed  on  the 
island  of  Lemnos.  He  again  returned  to  Olympus,  and  acted  as 
mediator  between  his  mother  and  Zeus.  On  this  occasion  he  offered 
nectar  to  his  mother  and  the  other  gods,  who  were  much  amused, 
and  laughed  loudly  at  his  hobbling  from  one  to  another.  In  the 
"Iliad,"  Charis  is  his  wife ;  in  " Hesiod,"  Aglaia,  but  in  the  "  Odyssey  " 
and  in  later  accounts,  Aphrodite  (Venus)  is  his  wife,  and  when  she 
was  in  love  with  Ares  (Mars),  Helios  disclosed  it  to  Hephaestus, 
who  caught  the  guilty  pair  in  an  invisible  net,  and  exposed  them  to 
the  ridicule  of  the  gods.    He  preferred  Lemnos  for  an  earthly  home, 


452 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


but  many  volcanic  islands  have  been  called  his  workshops,  such  as 
Sicily,  Lipara,  Imbros,  etc.  He  was  represented  as  a  vigorous  man, 
with  a  beard,  bearing  a  hammer  or  some  implement  of  his  art,  and 
wearing  an  oval  cap  and  a  chiton,  which  leaves  the  right  arm  and 
shoulder  bare. 

He'ra  (Here).  Juno.  Signifies,  Mistress.  Daughter  of  Cronus 
(Saturn)  and  Rhea.  Sister  and  wife  of  Zeus  (Jupiter).  She  was 
reared  by  Oceanus  and  Tethys,  and  became  the  wife  of  Zeus  with- 
out the  knowledge  of  her  parents,  according  to  Homer.  Others  sa-y 
that  Cronus  swallowed  her,  as  he  did  his  other  children,  and  after- 
wards restored  her.  She  was  treated  with  great  respect  by  the 
gods,  and  Zeus  consulted  her,  and  told  her  his  secrets,  but  she  was 
obliged  to  obey  him,  and  the  idea  of  her  as  queen  of  heaven  is 
much  later  than  the  "Iliad."  She  was  unlovely  in  character,  jealous, 
quarrelsome,  obstinate,  and  revengeful.  She  quarreled  with  Zeus  at 
times,  and  once  made  a  plan  with  Poseidon  (Neptune)  and  Athena 
(Minerva)  to  put  him  in  chains.  He  often  beat  her,  and  once  hung 
her  in  the  clouds  with  her  hands  chained  and  anvils  tied  to  her  feet. 
She  was  mother  of  Ares  (Mars),  Hebe,  and  Hephaestus  (Yulcan). 
Hera  was  the  only  goddess  who  was  really  married,  and  is  therefore 
the  divinity  of  marriage  and  of  births.  She  is  mother  of  the  Ilithyia?, 
the  goddesses  Avho  aided  mothers  in  childbirth.  She  was  hostile  to 
the  Trojans  on  account  of  the  judgment  of  Paris.  She  persecuted 
the  children  of  Zeus  by  mortal  mothers.  She  was  especially  wor- 
shipped at  Argos,  and  to  a  less  extent  all  over  Greece.  She  was 
represented  as  very  beautiful  and  majestic.  She  wore  a  diadem  and 
veil  to  signify  that  she  was  the  bride  of  Zeus.  The  sceptre  and 
peacock  are  her  attributes.    See  Juno. 

Her'cules  (Heracles).  Son  of  Zeus  (Jupiter)  by  Alcmene,  wife 
of  Amphitryon  of  Thebes,  whom  Zeus  deceived,  pretending  to  be 
her  husband.  On  the  day  he  was  to  be  born,  Zeus  boasted  that  he 
was  about  to  become  the  father  of  one,  destined  to  rule  over  the  race 
of  Perseus.  Hera  (Juno)  persuaded  him  to  swear  that  the  first  de- 
scendant of  Perseus,  born  that  day,  should  be  the  ruler ;  then  she 
hasted  to  Argos  and  caused  Eurystheus,  a  grandson  of  Perseus,  to 
be  born ;  so  Hercules  was  robbed  of  his  kingdom.  Zeus  was  angry, 
but  he  had  sworn.  Alcmene  gave  birth  to  Hercules,  and  Iphicles, 
begotten  by  Amphitryon  one  night  later  than  Hercules  by  Zeus. 
Hera  sent  two  serpents  to  destroy  Hercules,  but  the  child  killed 
them.  Castor  instructed  him  in  fighting  in  armor  ;  Linus  in  music  ; 
Eurytus  in  archery,  and  Amphitryon  in  driving  the  chariot.  He 
killed  Linus  because  he  censured  him,  and  Amphitryon  sent  him  to 
tend  his  cattle.  When  eighteen  years  old,  he  killed  a  huge  lion, 
vrhich  made  great  havoc  among  the  herds  of  Amphitryon  and  Thes- 
pius.  The  latter  had  fifty  daughters.  He  made  Hercules  his  guest, 
and  delivered  his  daughters  to  him,  so  long  as  the  chase  for  the 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


453 


lion  lasted.  After  he  had  killed  him  he  wore  his  skin  as  a  gar- 
ment, the  head  and  mouth  being  a  helmet.  Others  say  his  lion- 
skin  was  that  of  the  Nemean  lion.  His  next  achievement  was  that 
of  killing  Erginus,  king  of  Orchomenos,  to  whom  the  Thebans  paid 
tribute.  In  this  battle  Amphitryon  was  killed.  Creon  rewarded 
Hercules  with  his  daughter  Megara,  who  bore  him  several  children. 
He  always  carried  a  club  he  had  cut  near  Nemea,  and  his  arms 
were  presents  from  the  gods.  Hera  now  drove  him  mad,  in  which 
state  he  killed  the  children  of  Megara  and  two  of  the  children  of 
Iphicles.  He  went  to  Thespius,  who  purified  him,  and  he  sentenced 
himself  to  exile,  and  consulted  the  Delphic  oracle  to  find  where  he 
should  settle.  Before  this  his  name  had  been  Alcides  or  Alcseus ; 
the  oracle  now  named  him  Hercules,  and  commanded  him  to  live  at 
Tiryns,  and  be  the  servant  of  Eurystheus  twelve  years,  when  he 
should  become  immortal.  Later  writers  tell  of  twelve  labors  which 
he  performed  for  this  master,  but  Homer  mentions  only  the  conquest 
of  Cerberus ;  a  fight  with  a  sea-monster ;  his  expedition  for  the 
horses  of  Laomedon,  and  the  war  with  the  Pylians,  when  he  killed 
the  entire  family  of  king  Neleus,  except  Nestor.  These  twelve  la- 
bors are,  (1.)  The  fight  ivith  the  Nemean  lion.  This  was  the  off- 
spring of  Typhon  and  Echidna.  Hercules  used  his  club  and  arrows 
in  vain,  and  finally  strangled  him  with  his  hands,  and  carried  him 
to  Tiryns  on  his  shoulder.  He  had  ravaged  the  vale  of  Nemea  be- 
tween Phlius  and  Cleon^e.  (2.)  Fight  with  the  Lernean  hydra. 
This  monster  sprang  from  the  same  source  as  the  lion,  and  was 
reared  by  Hera  (Juno).  It  ravaged  all  the  country  of  Lerna,  near 
Argos,  and  lived  in  a  swamp  by  the  well  of  Amymone.  It  had 
nine  heads,  and  the  centre  one  was  immortal.  Hercules  struck  off 
the  heads,  but  in  place  of  every  one  he  took  away,  two  new  ones 
appeared.  At  length  with  the  help  of  lolaus,  his  servant,  he  burned 
its  heads,  and  buried  the  immortal  one  beneath  a  huge  rock.  He 
dipped  his  arrows  in  its  bile,  which  was  an  incurable  poison.  (3J. 
Capture  of  the  Arcadian  stag.  Eurystheus  ordered  him  to  bring  this 
alive.  It  had  golden  antlers  and  brazen  feet.  After  pursuing  it  a 
year,  he  wounded  it  with  an  arrow  and  bore  it  away  on  his  shoul- 
ders. (4.)  Capture  of  the  ErymantJiian  hoar.  He  was  also  com- 
manded to  bring  this  fierce  animal  alive.  He  chased  it  through  the 
snow  until  it  was  exhausted,  and  then  took  it  in  a  net.  With  these 
immense  labors  smaller  ones  are  connected,  called  Parerga.  For 
instance,  while  pursuing  the  boar,  he  encountered  the  centaur  Pho- 
lus,  to  whom  Dionysus  (Bacchus)  had  given  a  cask  of  wine.  Her- 
cules opened  it  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  Pholus.  Its  fragrance  at- 
tracted all  the  other  centaurs.  Hercules  drove  them  away,  and  in 
his  eagerness  wounded  his  friend  Chiron.  (See  Chiron).  He  also 
killed  Pholus  by  accident.  (5.)  Cleansing  the  Augean  Stables.  He 
was  ordered  to  perform  this  labor  in  one  day.    They  belonged  to  Au- 


454 


ANCIENT  MYTHS. 


geas,  king  of  Elis,  who  had  three  thousand  cattle,  and  the  stalls  had 
not  been  cleansed  for  thirty  years.  Hercules  then  went  to  Augeas, 
and  did  not  mention  the  name  of  his  master,  but  offered  to  cleanse 
the  stalls  in  a  day  if  he  would  give  him  a  tenth  part  of  the  cattle. 
Augeas  gave  consent,  to  which  his  son  Phyleus  was  witness.  Then 
Hercules  turned  the  rivers  Alpheus  and  Peneus,  so  that  they  ran 
through  the  stalls.  Augeas,  however^  refused  him  the  cattle,  and 
exiled  his  son  because  he  witnessed  against  him.  Hercules  after- 
v.^ards  killed  both  him  and  his  sons.  After  this  it  is  believed  that 
Hercules  founded  the  Olympic  games.  (6.)  Destruction  of  Stym- 
phalian  birds.  These  birds  had  brazen  claws,  beaks,  and  wings. 
They  used  their  feathers  as  arrows,  and  ate  human  flesh.  They  had 
been  reared  by  Ares  (Mars).  Hercules  was  commanded  to  expel 
them  from  lake  Stymphalus  in  Arcadia.  Athena  (Minerva)  gave 
him  a  brazen  rattle  with  which  he  frightened  the  birds,  and  when 
they  flew  into  the  air,  he  killed  them  with  arrows.  Some  say  that 
he  merely  drove  them  away,  and  that  the  Argonautae  found  them  at 
the  island  of  Aretias.  (7.)  Capture  of  the  Cretan  hull.  This  bull 
had  been  sent  to  Minos  for  a  sacrifice  by  Poseidon  (Neptune).  Mi- 
nos so  admired  it  that  he  kept  it  and  sacrificed  another.  Neptune 
then  drove  the  bull  mad,  and  he  made  great  havoc.  Hercules 
caught  the  creature  and  carried  it  home  on  his  shoulders.  He  let 
it  go  again,  and  it  appeared  later  at  Marathon.  (8.)  Capture  of 
the  mares  of  Diomedes.     These  mares  were  fed  on  human  flesh,  and 

Hercules  was  commanded  to 
bring  them  to  Eurystheus. 
With  a  few  assistants  he 
seized  them  and  took  them  to 
the  sea-coast.  Here  he  was 
overtaken  by  the  Bistones,  the 
subjects  of  Diomedes.  While 
fighting  he  gave  the  horses  to 
Abderus,  whom  they  killed. 
Hercules  conquered  the  Bis- 
tones and  slew  Diomedes. 
He  threw  his  body  to  the 
horses.  Eating  the  flesh  of 
their  master  tamed  them. 
Hercules  founded  the  city  of 
Abdera  in  honor  of  his  friend, 
and  then  took  the  mares  to  Eurystheus,  who  set  them  free,  and  they 
were  destroyed  by  wild  beasts  on  Mount  Olympus.  (9.)  Seizure  of 
the  girdle  of  Hippolyte.  This  queen  of  the  Amazons  had  a  girdle 
which  Mars  (Ares)  had  given  her.  Admete,  the  daughter  of  Eurys- 
theus, desired  it,  and  he  sent  Hercules  for  it.  He  had  many  adven- 
tures in  reaching  her  country,  where  the  queen  received  him  kindly. 


Hercules  and  horses  of  Diomedes.  (Museo 
Borbonico.) 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


455 


But  Hera  excited  all  the  Amazones  against  him.  A  quarrel  ensued, 
in  which  Hercules  killed  Hippolyte,  and  seized  her  girdle.  On  his 
return  he  stopped  at  Troas  and  rescued  Hesione  from  the  monster 
sent  by  Neptune  (Poseidon).  Her  father,  Laomedon,  promised  him 
the  horses  Zeus  had  given  him  when  he  took  away  Ganymedes. 
He  did  not  keep  his  word,  and  Hercules  afterwards  made  war  on 
account  of  this.  (10.)  Capture  of  the  oxen  of  Geryones  in  Erythia. 
The  fabulous  island  of  Erythia  (the  reddish),  was  so  called  because 
it  was  in  the  west  beneath  the  setting  sun.  Here  lived  Geryones, 
the  monster  with  three  bodies.  He  had  magnificent  oxen,  which 
were  guarded  by  Eurytion,  the  giant,  and  the  two-headed  dog  Orthus. 
These  oxen  Hercules  was  commanded  to  bring  to  Eurystheus.  After 
traversing  many  lands  he  reached  the  borders  of  Europe  and  Libya, 
and  erected  two  pillars,  Calpe  and  Abyla,  one  on  each  side  of  the 
straits  of  Gibraltar,  since  called  the  pillars  of  Hercules.  He  so 
suffered  from  the  heat  of  the  sun,  that  he  shot  at  Helios,  who  ad- 
mired his  boldness,  and  gave  him  a  golden  boat  in  which  he  sailed 
to  Erythia.  He  slew  Geryones,  Eurytion  and  his  dog,  and  sailed 
with  the  oxen  for  Tartessus.  Here  he  returned  the  golden  boat  to 
Helios.  On  his  journey  through  Gaul,  Italy,  Illyricum,  and  Thrace, 
he  met  with  many  hindrances,  but  at  last  brought  his  booty  safely  to 
his  master,  who  sacrificed  the  oxen  to  Hera  (Juno).  (11-)  Bringing 
the  golden  apples  of  the  Hesperides,  Ge  (the  earth)  had  given  these 
apples  to  Hera  as  a  marriage  gift.  Hera  gave  them  to  the  Hes- 
perides, and  the  giant  Ladon  on  Mount  Atlas,  for  safe  keeping. 
(Hesperides).  Hercules  did 
not  know  where  they  were 
kept,  which  made  the  task  a 
difficult  one.  When  Hercules 
arrived  at  Mount  Atlas  he  bore 
the  weight  of  heaven,  and  com- 
manded Atlas  to  bring  the 
apples.  This  he  did,  but  re- 
fused to  take  the  weight  agai  n. 
Hercules,  however,  took  the 
apples,  and  hastened  to  Eurys- 
theus and  gave  him  the  ap- 
ples. He  dedicated  them  to 
Athena  (Minerva),  who  re- 
stored them  to  their  former  place.  Some  accounts  say  that  Hercules 
killed  the  giant  Ladon.  (12.)  Bringing  Cerberus  from  Hades.  This 
was  the  most  diflficult  task.  He  entered  the  lower  world  near 
Tsenarum  in  Laconia.  Hermes  (Mercury)  and  Athena  (Minerva) 
accompanied  him.  He  liberated  Theseus  and  ^^sculapius  from 
torments,  and  obtained  permission  of  Pluto  to  carry  Cerberus  to 
Eurystheus  if  he  could  do  it  without  force  of  arms.    This  he  did,  and 


Hercules  and  Cerberus. 


456 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


after  showing  the  monster  to  his  master  he  returned  it  to  Hades. 
These  twelve  labors  being  ended,  Hercules  returned  to  Thebes. 
There  he  gave  Megara  to  lolaus  in  marriage,  and  wished  himself  to 
obtain  lole,  daughter  of  Eurytus,  king  of  (Echalia.  Her  father 
promised  her  to  any  one  who  should  excel  himself  and  his  sons  in 
shooting  with  the  bow.  Hercules  excelled  them,  but  they  refused, 
(with  the  exception  of  Iphitus),  to  give  lole  to  him  because  he  had 
killed  his  own  children.  He  soon  killed  Iphitus,  his  friend,  in  a  fit 
of  madness,  and  although  purified  from  this  murder  he  was  attacked 
by  a  severe  illness.  The  Delphic  oracle  declared  that  he  could  be 
restored  to  health  if  he  would  serve  three  years  for  wages,  which  he 
must  give  to  Eurytus  to  atone  for  the  murder  of  Iphitus.  He  be- 
came the  servant  of  Omphale,  queen  of  Lydia.  Tradition  says 
that  here  he  lived  effeminately,  spun  wool  and  dressed  like  a  woman, 
while  the  queen  wore  his  lion-skin.     Others  relate  that  during  this 

time  he  undertook  an  expedition 
to  Colchis ;  met  the  Argonauts  ; 
took  part  in  the  Calydonian  hunt ; 
and  met  Theseus  on  the  Corin- 
thian isthmus  when  he  returned 
from  Troezene.  At  the  end  of 
three  years  he  sailed  to  Troy, 
killed  king  Laomedon,  and  took 
the  city.  About  this  time  the 
gods  sent  for  him  to  assist  them 
to  fight  the  giants,  who  had  made 
war  against  them.  After  his  re- 
turn to  Argos  he  marched  against 
Augeas  ;  against  Pylos,  and  killed 
the  entire  family  of  Neleus,  with 
the  exception  of  Nestor.  He  went 
to  Calydon  and  fought  with  Ache- 
lous  for  Deianira,  daughter  of 
Q^^neus.  After  being  married  to 
her  three  years  he  accidentally 
killed  the  boy  Eunomus  at  the 

Hercules  and  Omphale.    (Farnese  Group,    house  of  CEneus.     Hercules  then 

^^P^*^^'^  went  into  exile,  taking  Deianira. 

When  they  came  to  the  river  Evenus,  where  Nessus  ferried  travellers 
across,  Hercules  crossed  and  left  Deianira  to  follow  him.  Nessus 
then  attempted  to  violate  her,  but  Hercules  hearing  her  cries  shot 
an  arrow  which  pierced  Nessus  through  the  heart.  Before  he  died 
he  told  Deianira  to  take  his  blood  with  her  as  a  sure  means  of  pre- 
serving the  love  of  her  husband.  Hercules  then  dwelt  at  Trachis, 
and  attacked  Eurytus  of  (Echalia.  He  took  his  kingdom,  killed 
him  and  his  sons,  and  carried  his  daughter  lole  away  a  prisoner. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


457 


On  his  return  he  landed  at  Censeum,  a  promontory  of  Euboea,  and 
erected  an  altar  to  Zeus.  He  sent  Liehas  to  Trachis  to  bring  him 
a  white  garment  to  use  during  the  sacrifice.  Deianira,  fearing  lest  lole 
should  rob  her  of  his  love,  sent  a  garment  steeped  in  the  blood  of 
Nessus.  The  arrow  of  Hercules  had  poisoned  the  blood,  and  when 
Hercules  put  on  the  garment  and  it  became  warm,  he  was  seized  with 
the  most  excruciating  agony.  When  he  pulled  it  off  pieces  of  flesh 
came  with  it.  He  seized  Lichas  and  threw  him  into  the  sea.  He 
was  conveyed  to  Trachis,  and  when  Deianira  saw  what  she  had 
done,  she  hung  herself.  Hercules  commanded  his  eldest  son  by 
Deianira,  Hyllus,  to  marry  lole  as  soon  as  he  should  reach  manhood. 
He  then  raised  a  pile  of  wood  on  Mount  GEta,  placed  himself  on  it 
and  commanded  it  to  be  set  on  fire.  While  it  was  burning,  a  cloud 
descended  and  carried  him  to  Olympus,  where  he  was  made  immor- 
tal ;  was  reconciled  to  Hera,  and  married  Hebe.  He  was  worshipped 
at  Greece  and  Rome.  The  sacrifices  offered  him  were  rams,  lambs, 
bulls,  and  boars.  The  poplar  tree  was  sacred  to  him.  He  is  vari- 
ously represented  in  art  as  a  child,  youth,  hero,  and  god.  In  every 
case  he  personifies  energy,  courage,  and  strength. 

Hermaphrodi^tus.  Son  of  Hermes  (Mercury)  and  Aphrodite 
(Yenus).  Grandson  of  Atlas,  and  therefore  called  Atlantiades,  or 
Atlantius.  He  inherited  great  beauty  from  both  parents.  The 
nymph  of  the  fountain  Salmacis  near  Halicarnassus  loved  him,  and 
tried  in  vain  to  win  his  affections.  One  day  as  he  bathed  in  the 
fountain  she  embraced  him,  at  the  same  time  praying  the  gods  to 
unite  them  forever.  Her  prayer  was  answered,  and  their  bodies 
united,  retaining  the  characteristics  of  both  sexes. 

Her'mes  (Mercurius).  Son  of  Zeus  (Jupiter)  and  Maia,  daughter 
of  Atlas.  Born  in  a  cave  on  Mount 
Cyllene  in  Arcadia,  and  called  Atlan- 
tiades or  Cyllenius.  When  but  a  few 
hours  old  he  went  to  Pieria,  carried 
off  the  oxen  of  Apollo  and  drove  them 
to  Pylos.  When  he  returned  to  his 
cave  he  found  a  tortoise  at  the  mouth 
of  it,  which  he  made  into  a  lyre,  by 
placing  strings  across  its  shell.  Apollo 
knew  who  had  stolen  the  oxen  and 
came  to  demand  them,  but  Maia  showed 
him  the  infant  asleep  in  his  cradle. 
The  god  took  him  to  Zeus,  who  com- 
pelled him  to  give  up  the  oxen,  but 
when  he  played  the  lyre  Apollo  was 
so  charmed  that  he  returned  them  to 
him  and  became  his  friend.  Hermes 

was  made  the  herald  of  the  gods,  es-       Hermes.  (Miiseo  Eorbonico.) 


458 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


pecially  of  Zeus ;  and  as  the  heralds  speak  publicly,  he  was  the  god 
of  eloquence,  —  the  god  who  protected  travellers,  and  the  god  of 
commerce.  His  statue  was  erected  on  roads,  at  gates,  and  doors. 
He  was  the  god  of  luck,  and  presided  over  games  with  dice.  He 
invented  sacrifices,  and  protected  animals  used  for  them.  For  this 
reason  he  was  connected  with  nymphs  and  with  Pan,  and  was  hon- 
ored by  shepherds.  He  was  the  god  of  cunning,  and  even  of  deceit 
and  treachery,  and  his  shrewdness  caused  him  to  invent  many  things, 
such  as  measures,  weights,  the  alphabet,  numbers,  astronomy,  the  art 
of  fighting,  and  gymnastics,  music,  the  cultivation  of  the  olive,  as 
well  as  the  lyre  and  syrinx.  Some  of  his  important  duties  as  a  her- 
ald were  to  lead  Priam  to  Achilles  to  recover  the  body  of  Hector ; 
to  rescue  Dionysus  (Bacchus)  from  the  flames  after  his  birth  ;  to 
sell  Hercules  to  Omphale  ;  to  carry  off  lo,  who  was  changed  into  a 
cow  and  guarded  by  Argus ;  to  tie  Ixion  to  the  wheel ;  and  to  con- 
duct Hera  (Juno),  Aphrodite  (Venus),  and  Athena  (Minerva)  to 
Paris.  Arcadia,  his  native  land,  was  the  first  place  where  he  was 
worshipped,  but  at  length  he  was  honored  throughout  all  Greece. 
All  gymnasia  were  under  his  care,  and  he  was  always  represented 
as  perfectly  developed  in  limb  and  person,  as  if  by  gymnastic  exer- 
cises. His  festivals  were  called  Hermaea.  The  palm,  the  tortoise, 
various  fishes,  and  the  number  "  4  "  were  sacred  to  him.  Young 
goats,  lambs,  pigs,  honey,  cakes,  and  incense  were  sacrificed  to  him. 
His  attributes  are  a  hat  with  a  wide  brim,  and  sometimes  with  wings  ; 
sandals  which  carried  him  swiftly  on  sea  or  land,  having  wings  at 
the  ankles,  from  which  he  is  called  alipes ;  and  the  herald's  staff 
given  him  by  Apollo,  which  in  early  art  was  adorned  with  white 
ribbons,  but  later  twined  with  two  serpents.    See  Mercurius. 

Hermi^one.  Daughter  of  Menelaus  and  Helen.  Very  beautiful. 
Was  promised  to  Orestes  before  the  siege  of  Troy,  but  after  the  end 
of  the  war  Menelaus  married  her  to  Neoptolemus  (Pyrrhus).  At 
his  death  she  married  Orestes  and  bore  a  son,  Tisamenus. 

He^ro.    See  Leander. 

Hersiria.  Wife  of  Pomulus.  After  death  worshipped  as  Hora 
or  Horta. 

Hesper'ides.  Their  parentage  is  disputed,  but  some  call  them 
daughters  of  Atlas  and  Hesperis,  hence  called  Atlantides  or  Hes- 
perides.  Some  mention  their  number  as  three,  and  their  names  as 
^gle,  Arethusa,  and  Hesperia  ;  others  give  them  as  four  :  iEgle, 
Crytheia,  Hestia,  and  Arethusa,  and  again  they  are  said  to  have 
been  seven.  Very  early  writers  say  that  they  lived  on  the  river 
Oceanus  in  the  West,  but  later  they  are  placed  near  Mount  Atlas 
and  in  Libya,  where  they  guarded  the  golden  apples  which  Ge  (the 
earth)  had  given  Hera  (Juno)  at  her  wedding.  The  giant  Ladon 
assisted  them.    See  Hercules. 

Hes^tia  (Vesta).    Daughter  of  Cronus  (Saturn)  and  Khea.  She 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


459 


was  the  first  born  of  Rhea,  and  thus  the  first  swallowed  by  Cronus. 
She  was  one  of  the  twelve  great  divinities.  Goddess  of  the  fire  on 
the  hearth.  When  Apollo  and  Poseidon  (Neptune)  sought  her  in 
marriage  she  swore  by  the  head  of  Zeus  to  remain  a  virgin.  She 
was  believed  to  dwell  in  the  inner  domestic  life,  as  the  hearth  was 
the  centre  of  that  life.  As  goddess  of  fire  she  had  a  part  in  all 
sacrifices.  She  was  goddess  of  the  public  hearth,  as  of  the  private  ; 
when  colonists  went  forth  they  carried  fire,  which  was  to  burn  in  the 
new  home  they  went  to  found.  The  public  hearth  was  usually  in 
the  prytaneum  of  a  town,  where  Hestia  had  a  special  sanctuary. 
See  Yesta. 

Hieron'.  Tyrant  of  Syracuse.  Brother  and  successor  of  Gelon. 
A  friend  and  patron  of  literature,  ^schylus,  Simonides,  and  Pindar 
dwelt  at  his  court.  (2.)  King  of  Syracuse  and  descended  from 
Gelon.  A  friend  and  ally  of  the  Romans.  Succeeded  by  Hierony- 
mus,  his  grandson. 

Hipporytus,  Son  of  Theseus  and  Hippolyte,  Queen  of  the 
Amazones,  or  of  her  sister  Antiope.  Theseus  afterward  married 
Phsedra,  who  fell  in  love  with  Hippolytus,  and  when  she  found  that 
he  would  not  return  it,  she  accused  him  to  Theseus  of  having  at- 
tempted to  dishonor  her.  Theseus  cursed  him  and  gave  him  over 
to  destruction.  As  Hippolytus  rode  near  the  sea,  Poseidon  (Nep- 
tune) sent  out  a  bull  which  frightened  the  horses,  who  upset  the 
chariot  and  dragged  Hippolytus  to  death.  When  Theseus  later 
learned  the  deceit  of  Phaedra  she  killed  herself.  Artemis  (Diana) 
and  ^sculapius  attempted  to  restore  Hippolytus  to  life.  The  ac- 
counts concerning  their  success  differ.  Some  relate  that  they  could 
not  restore  him ;  others  that  they  succeeded,  and  under  the  name  of 
Virbius  he  dwelt  in  the  grove  of  Aricia  in  Latium  under  the  protec- 
tion of  Egeria,  and  was  worshipped  as  a  divinity. 

Hoarse.  Daughters  of  Zeus  (Jupiter)  and  Themis.  Goddesses 
of  the  seasons  and  of  the  order  of  Nature.  They  kept  the  door  of 
Olympus  and  controlled  the  weather.  Thallo  (Hora  of  spring)  and 
Carpo  (Hora  of  autumn)  were  worshipped  at  Athens  from  very  early 
times.  They  are  usually  represented  as  four  in  number.  Hesiod 
calls  them  Eunomia  (good  order),  Dice  (justice),  and  Irene  (peace). 
In  art  they  are  represented  as  blooming  youths  or  maidens  bearing 
the  products  of  the  seasons. 

Hyacin'thus.  Son  of  Amyclas,  King  of  Sparta.  A  beautiful 
youth,  beloved  by  Apollo  and  Zephyrus.  He  loved  Apollo,  but  as 
he  played  quoits  with  him  Zephyrus  through  jealousy  caused  the 
quoit  of  Apollo  to  hit  Hyacinthus  and  kill  him  instantly.  The  hya- 
cinth sprang  from  his  blood,  and  on  its  leaves  was  the  woful  excla- 
mation AI,  or  Y,  which  is  the  initial  letter  of  *YaKivOo^.  He  was 
worshipped  at  Amyclse  as  a  hero,  and  his  festival  was  called  Hya- 
cinthia. 


460  ANCIENT  MYTHS 

Hydas^pes.    The  most  northern  of  the  five  rivers  which  form  the 
Indus,  and  water  the  great  plain  of  northern  India. 
Hy'dra.    See  Hercules. 

Hygie^a  (Hygea;  Hygia).  Daughter  or  wife  of  iEsculapius. 
Goddess  of  health.  In  art  she  wears  a  long  robe,  and  feeds  a  ser- 
pent from  a  cup. 

Hy'Ias.    A  beautiful  youth  whom  Hercules  loved  and  took  with  . 
him  in  the  expedition  of  the  Argonauts.    He  went  to  draw  water 
on  the  coast  of  Mysia,  and  was  carried  off  by  the  Naiads.  Hercules 
sought  him  in  vain. 

Hy'men  (Hymenaeus).  Son  of  Apollo  and  a  Muse.  God  of 
marriage,  who  was  invoked  in  a  bridal  song.  In  art  he  is  young, 
but  more  serious  in  expression  than  Eros  (Cupid),  and  bears  a 
torch. 

Hypsip^yle.  Daughter  of  Thoas,  king  of  Lemnos.  AYlien  the 
Lemnian  women  killed  all  the  men,  she  saved  her  father,  and  when 
this  was  discovered  she  was  compelled  to  quit  the  island.  She  was 
taken  by  pirates  when  escaping,  and  sold  to  Lycurgus  the  Nemean 
king.     He  gave  her  to  his  son  Archemorus  or  Opheltes. 

Ic'arus.     Son  of  Da3dalus.    When  they  wished  to  escape  from 

Crete,  the  father  made  them  wings 
and  fastened  them  with  wax,  and 
he  flew  safely  to  Italy ;  but  Icarus 
flew  too  near  the  sun  so  that  the 
wax  was  melted,  and  the  wings 
coming  ofl"  he  fell  into  the  ^gean 
Sea. 

Ifole.  See  Hercules. 
Iphigeni'a.  Daughter  of  Aga- 
memnon and  Clyta^mnestra,  or  as 
others  say,  of  Theseus  and  Helena. 
Agamemnon  killed  a  hart  sacred 
to  Diana  (Artemis),  and  she  be- 
calmed the  Greek  fleet  in  Aulis 
when  they  would  sail  to  Troy. 
Calchas,  the  seer,  advised  Aga- 
memnon to  sacrifice  Iphigenia,  but 
Artemis  put  a  hart  in  her  place 
and  bore  her  to  Tauris,  where  she  made  her  a  priestess.  When  her 
brother  Orestes  was  to  be  sacrificed  to  Artemis  she  rescued  him  and 
carried  him  to  Greece  with  the  statue  of  the  goddess.  Iphigenia 
was  probably  the  same  as  Artemis  originally.  She  was  worshipped 
in  Athens  and  Sparta. 

Fris.  Daughter  of  Thaumas  and  Electra.  Sister  of  the  Har- 
pies, —  called  also  Thaumantias.  In  the  "Iliad"  she  was  the  mes- 
senger of  the  gods.    She  is  a  virgin  in  the  earlier  traditions,  but 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


461 


later  the  wife  of  Zephyrus  and  mother  of  Eros  (Cupid), 
personification  of  the  rainbow, 
which  was  considered  a  swift 
messenger  of  the  gods.  In 
art  she  wears  a  long  and  full 
tunic,  over  this  a  light  gar- 
ment ;  wings  on  the  shoulders  ; 
—  bears  the  herald's  staff  in 
her  left  hand  and  sometimes 
a  pitcher. 

I^sis.  Chief  female  divin- 
ity of  Egypt.  Wife  of  Osiris. 
Mother  of  Horus.  Originally 
goddess  of  the  earth,  later  of 
the  moon.  Her  worship  was 
introduced  into  Rome  and  be- 


She  was  the 


Iris.    (Ancient  Vase.) 


came  popular.  Her  temple  was  in  the  Campus  Martins,  and  she 
was  called  Isis  Campensis.  She  is  also  called  linigera,  because 
her  priests  wore  linen  garments. 

Ixi^on.  King  of  the  Lapithse.  Father  of  Pirithous.  He  mur- 
dered his  father-in-law,  and  when  no  one  would  purify  him,  he  went 
to  Zeus  (Jupiter)  who  took  him  to  heaven  and  purified  him.  But 
Ixion  was  ungrateful  to  Zeus,  and  tried  to  win  the  love  of  Hera. 
Zeus  then  made  a  phantom  like  Hera,  and  by  this  Ixion  became  the 
father  of  a  centaur.  Ixion  was  punished  for  his  impious  ingratitude  by 
Hermes  (Mercury), 
who  chained  him  to  a 
wheel  which  revolves 
perpetually  in  the  air. 

Ja^son.  Son  of 
iEson,  king  of  lolcus 
in  Thessaly.  Pelias, 
uncle  of  Jason,  took 
the  kingdom  from  his 
father,  and  attempted 
to  kill  Jason.  His 
friends  saved  him,  and 
he  was  cared  for  by 
Chiron  the  centaur. 
When  older  he  de- 
manded his  kingdom 
of  Pelias,  who  made 
the  condition  that  he 
should  bring  him  the 
golden  fleece.  (See 
Argonaut*.)  Wliile 
Jason    was  absent, 


Medea  and  her  children.    (Museo  Borbonico.) 


462 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


Pelias  slew  liis  father.  Medea,  the  wife  of  Jason,  in  order  to  re- 
venge this  murder,  persuaded  the  daughters  of  PeUas  to  cut  him  up 
and  boil  him,  to  make  him  young  again.  He  died  thus,  and  his 
son  Acastus  drove  Jason  and  Medea  out  of  lolcus.  They  went  to 
Corinth,  where  they  were  happy  until  Jason  deserted  Medea  for 
Glauce  or  Creusa,  daughter  of  the  king  of  Corinth.  Medea  sent  her 
a  garment  which  burned  her  up  when  she  put  it  on ;  and  her  father, 
Creon,  also  perished  in  the  flames  from  it.  Medea  then  killed  her 
children  by  Jason,  and  fled  to  Athens  in  a  chariot  drawn  by  winged 
dragons.  Several  traditions  are  given  concerning  the  death  of 
Jason.  One  says  he  killed  himself  from  grief ;  another,  that  he  was 
crushed  beneath  the  poop  of  the  ship  Argo. 

Ju'no  (Hera).  Although  the  Roman  Juno  and  Greek  Hera  are 
considered  the  same  goddess,  there  was  a  difference  regarding  her 
in  the  opinions  of  the  two  nations.  Juno  was  queen  of  heaven,  as 
Jupiter  (Zeus)  was  king,  and  had  the  surname  Regina.  Her  other 
surnames  were,  Virginalis,  Matrona,  Sospita,  Opigena,  Juga  or  Juga- 
lis,  Pronuha,  Cinxia,  Lucina,  Moneta,  and  others.  She  was  believed 
to  watch  over  every  woman  from  birth  till  death.  On  birth-days 
she  was  invoked  as  Natalis.  The  Matronalia  on  the  first  of  March 
was  her  great  festival.  It  is  said  that  June  was  originally  called 
Junonius,  and  was  considered  the  most  favorable  month  for  mar- 
riage. Women  in  childbirth,  and  newly  born  infants  were  her 
special  care.  She  also  guarded  the  finances,  and  had  a  temple  on 
the  Capitoline  Hill  dedicated  to  Juno  Moneta. 
Ju^piter  (Zeus).  The  Roman  lord  of  Heaven.  His  surnames 
are  Pluvius,  Fulgurator,  Tonitrualis,  To- 
nans,  Fulminatory  Victor,  Imperator,  Invic- 
tus,  Stator,  Opitulus,  Triumpliator,  and 
many  more.  Being  the  highest  god,  he 
was  called  Optimus  Maximus.  He  was 
called  Capitolinus  and  Tarpeius,  from  the 
fact  that  his  temple  was  on  the  Capitoline 
Hill.  He  was  regarded  as  the  special 
protector  of  Rome,  and  recognized  on  all 
important  occasions,  such  as  victories,  the 
assumption  of  office  by  new  consuls,  etc., 
etc.  There  were  almost  numberless  tem- 
ples and  statues  sacred  to  him  in  Rome, 
under  his  various  surnames.  As  Capitoli- 
nus he  presided  over  the  great  games  ; 
as  Latialis  or  Latiaris  over  the  Feriae  La- 
tinge.  He  was  Prodigalis,  because  he 
caused  all  wonderful  events  besides  determining  the  usual  course  of 
all  human  affairs.  Nothing  was  undertaken  without  seeking  his 
blessing,  and  he  was  regarded  as  the  protector  of  justice,  and  the 


Head  of  Olympian  Jupiter. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


463 


enforcer  of  faith  and  oaths.  Fides  and  Victoria  were  his  compan- 
ions on  the  capitol ;  hence  were  traitors  thrown  from  the  Tarpeian 
rock.  As  prince  of  light,  and  lord  of  heaven,  white  was  sacred  to 
him.  White  animals  were  sacrificed  to  him  ;  his  chariot  was  believed 
to  be  drawn  by  four  white  horses ;  his  priests  wore  white  caps,  and 
the  consuls  wore  white  when  they  sacrificed  to  him  upon  assuming 
their  office.  The  Flamen  Dialis,  who  had  the  care  of  the  worship 
of  Jupiter,  was  the  highest  of  all  the  flamens.     See  Zeus. 

La^don.  The  dragon  who  assisted  the  Hesperides  to  guard  the 
golden  apples  of  Juno.     See  Hercules. 

Laoc^oon.  A  Trojan  priest  of  the  Thymbraean  Apollo.  He  en- 
deavored to  prevent  the  Tro- 
jans taking  the  wooden  horse 
into  the  city.  As  he  was 
about  to  sacrifice  a  bull  to 
Neptune  (Poseidon),  two  ser- 
pents came  from  the  sea,  and 
destroyed  him  and  his  two 
sons. 

Laodami'a.  Daughter  of 
Acastus.  Wife  of  Protesilaus. 
Her  husband  was  slain  before 
Troy,  and  she  obtained  permis- 
sion of  the  gods  to  converse 
with  him  three  hours.  Her- 
mes (Mercury)  led  Protesilaus 
back  to  the  upper  world,  and 
when  he  died  again  Laodamia 
died  also. 

Laom'edon.    Son  of  Hus. 
Father  of  Priam,  Hesione,  and  Laocooa.  (Vatican.) 

others.  King  of  Troy.  Poseidon  (Neptune)  and  Apollo  had  dis- 
pleased Zeus  (Jupiter),  and  he  sentenced  them  to  serve  Laome- 
don.  Apollo  tended  his  flocks  on  Mount  Ida,  and  Poseidon  built 
the  walls  of  Troy.  When  they  had  done,  the  king  refused  the 
wages  he  had  agreed  to  give,  and  in  revenge  Poseidon  sent  a  sea- 
monster  who  preyed  on  the  country,  and  the  Trojans  were  forced  to 
sacrifice  a  maiden  to  him  from  time  to  time.  It  fell  to  the  lot  of 
Hesione,  the  king's  daughter,  to  be  thus  slain,  and  Hercules  killed 
the  monster  to  save  her.  Laomedon  promised  to  give  him,  as  a 
reward,  the  divine  horses  which  he  had  received  from  Zeus  as  pay- 
ment for  Ganymedes.  Again  the  king  was  faithless,  and  Hercules 
sailed  against  Troy,  took  it,  killed  the  king,  and  gave  Hesione  to 
Telamon. 

Lap^ithae.  The  mythical  subjects  of  Pirithous,  son  of  Ixion  and 
half-brother  of  the  centaurs.    This  race  were  said  to  dwell  in  the 


464 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


mountains  of  Thessaly.  The  centaurs  demanded  a  share  of  the 
kingdom,  and  being  refused  there  was  war  between  them  and  the 
Lapithse.  They  at  length  made  a  peace,  but  when  Pirithous  mar- 
ried Hippodamia,  the  centaurs  became  intoxicated  at  the  wedding- 
feast,  and  urged  on  by  Ares  (Mars),  they  attempted  to  carry  off  the 
bride  and  other  women.  A  bloody  contest  ensued.  The  Lapi- 
th^e  were  victorious.  It  is  said  that  bridles  for  horses  were  in- 
vented and  first  used  by  this  people.  They  were  probably  a  Pelas- 
gian  race,  who  drove  the  less  civilized  centaurs  away  from  Mount 
Pelion. 

La^res.  These  inferior  gods  of  Rome  were  of  two  classes  :  Lares 
publici,  and  Lares  domestici.  The  puUici  were  also  divided  into 
Lares  prcestites  and  Lares  compitales.  The  former  protected  all  the 
city,  the  latter  different  parts  of  it.  The  Lares  domestici  were  the 
spirits  of  good  men  honored  as  Lares.  They  were  led  by  Lar,  who 
was  esteemed  as  the  founder  of  the  family,  and  went  with  them, 
wherever  they  might  remove.  The  images  of  Lares  in  large  houses 
were  by  themselves  in  a  lararia.  A  portion  of  the  meals  was 
offered  the  Lares,  and  on  joyful  occasions  they  were  adorned  with 
flowers. 

Lato'na.    See  Leto. 

Lavinla  (Lavinia).  Daughter  of  Latinus  and  Amata.  Mar- 
ried cO  ^neas,  although  first  betrothed  to  Turnus. 

Lean^der.  The  brave  lover  of  Hero,  the  priestess  of  Aphrodite 
(Venus)  in  Sestus.  He  swam  the  Hellespont  each  night  to  see  her, 
and  when  at  last  he  perished  in  the  waves,  and  his  body  was  washed 
ashore  at  Sestus,  Hero  threw  herself  into  the  sea  and  thus  perished. 

Le^da  (Thestias).  Daughter  of  Thestius.  Wife  of  Tyndareus. 
Mother  of  Castor,  Pollux,  Clytiemnestra,  and  Helena,  either  by  her 
husband  or  Zeus  (Jupiter).  According  to  the  tradition,  the  latter 
visited  her  in  the  form  of  a  swan,  and  she  brought  forth  two  eggs. 
From  one  Castor  and  Pollux  issued,  and  Helena  from  the  other. 

Le'to  (Latona).  Daughter  of  the  Titan  Coeus  and  Phoebe. 
Mother  of  Apollo  and  Artemis  (Diana)  by  Zeus  (Jupiter).  Juno 
(Hera)  hated  and  persecuted  her,  and  at  last  she  went  to  Delos,  a 
floating  island.  Zeus  fastened  it  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea  with 
chains  of  adamant,  and  here  she  gave  birth  to  her  children.  She 
was  worshipped  in  connection  with  her  children,  and  principally 
at  Delos.  From  her  Apollo  is  called  Leto'ius  or  LatoiuSy  and  Diana 
Leto'ia,  Leto'is,  Lato'is  or  Latoe. 

Leueip'pus.  l.  Son  of  (Enomaus  and  lover  of  Daphne.  2. 
Son  of  Perieres.  Prince  of  the  Messenians.  Father  of  Phoebe  and 
Hilaria,  who  are  called  Leucippides.  They  were  betrothed  to  Idas 
and  Lynceus,  sons  of  Aphareus,  but  they  were  stolen  by  Castor  and 
Pollux. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


465 


Lips.  The  Southwest  wind.  Corresponds  to  the  Latin  Afri- 
cus. 

Lucre'tia.  Wife  of  L.  Tarquinius  Collatinus.  Her  rape  by 
Sextus  Tarquinius  led  to  the 


dethronement  of  Tarquinius 
Superbus  and  the  founding  of 
the  Republic. 

Lycome'des.  King  of  the 
Dolopians.  Achilles  was  sent 
to  his  court  as  a  maiden.  (See 
Achilles.)  Lycomedes  killed 
Theseus  by  thrusting  him 
down  a  rock. 


LyCUr'gUS.      SonofDryas      ^^P'"  Temple  of  the  Winds.) 

and  king  of  the  Edones  in  Thrace.  He  is  celebrated  for  his  perse- 
cution of  Dionysus  (Bacchus).  The  gods  made  him  mad  on  account 
of  his  impiety.  He  was  killed,  but  the  manner  of  his  death  is  vari- 
ously related. 

Mars  (Ares).  Next  to  Jupiter  the  highest  god  at  Eome.  He  was 
considered  the  father  of  Romulus.  Often  called  Father  Mars.  He 
was  one  of  the  three  tutelary  deities,  and  to  him  Numa  appointed  a 
flamen.  He  was  god  of  war,  and  war  itself  was  often  called  Mars. 
The  Campus  Martins  being  dedicated  to  warlike  exercises,  was 
named  for  him.  His  priests,  the  Salii,  danced  in  full  armor.  He 
was  also  the  protector  of  agriculture  and  watched  over  the  Roman 
citizens  as  Quirites,  he  being  identified  with  Quirinus.  In  each 
character  he  has  an  appropriate  name.  As  war  god  he  is  Gradivus, 
as  rustic  god,  Silvanus,  and  as  civil  god  Quirinus.  His  wife  was 
called  Neria  or  Neriene^  the  feminine  of  Nero,  signifying  strong. 
Many  temples  in  Rome  were  dedicated  to  Mars.  The  most  impor- 
tant was  that  on  the  Appian  Way,  beyond  Porta  Capena,  and  Mars 
Ultor,  built  in  the  forum  by  Augustus.  The  wolf  and  woodpecker 
were  sacred  to  him. 

Mar'Syas  (Marsya).  A  satyr  of  Phrygia.  He  found  the  flute 
which  Athena  (Minerva)  had  thrown  away,  because  it  distorted  her 
face.  Marsyas  finding  that  it  emitted  sweet  music,  challenged 
Apollo  to  a  musical  contest  on  condition  that  the  victor  should  do 
what  he  chose  with  the  loser.  Apollo  played  the  cithara,  and  the 
Muses  decided  in  his  favor.  *  Apollo  bound  Marsyas  to  a  tree  and 
flayed  him  alive.  His  blood  formed  the  River  Marsyas,  and  Apollo 
hung  his  skin  in  the  cave  from  which  that  stream  flows.  The  statues 
of  Marsyas  were  erected  as  a  warning  against  presumption.  Thai, 
in  the  Roman  forum  was  often  spoken  of  by  the  poets. 

Mede'a.    (See  Argonautae,  Jason.) 

Medu'sa.    (See  Gorgones.) 

Melea'ger    (Meleagrus).    Son  of  (Eneus,  king  of  Calydon,  and 
30 


466 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


Altliasa.    He  was  in  the  expedition  of  tlie  Argonauts,  and  was  after- 
  wards  leader  of  his  companions. 


ager  expired.  His  mother  then  repented,  and  killed  herself.  The 
sisters  of  Meleager  wept  for  him  so  continually  that  Artemis  (Diana) 
metamorphosed  them  into  guinea-hens  and  placed  them  on  the 
island  of  Leros. 

Melpom'ene.    Muse  of  Tragedy.    See  Musag. 

Menela'US.  Son  of  Plisthenes  or  Atreus.  Brother  of  Aga- 
memnon and  king  of  Lacedaemon.  Husband  of  Helen.  Father  of 
Hermione.  (The  rape  of  Helen  and  expedition  to  Troy,  see  Aga- 
memnon.) In  the  siege  of  Troy  Menelaus  killed  many  Trojans, 
and  would  have  slain  Paris,  had  not  Aphrodite  (Venus)  carried 
him  away  in  a  cloud.  Helen  married  Deiphobus,  brother  of  Paris, 
after  the  death  of  the  latter.  As  soon  as  Troy  was  captured,  Men- 
elaus and  Ulysses  hastened  to  the  house  of  Deiphobus,  whom  they 
killed.  It  is  said  that  Helen  introduced  them  secretly  to  his  cham- 
ber, and  thus  was  reconciled  to  Menelaus.  He  sailed  from  Troy 
with  Helen  and  Nestor,  but  was  eight  years  in  reaching  Sparta, 
where  he  afterwards  lived  with  Helen  in  happiness,  and  surrounded 
by  wealth  and  luxury.  One  tradition  relates  that  they  never  died, 
but  were  translated  to  Elysium.  Another  that  they  went  to  Tauris, 
and  were  sacrificed  to  Artemis  by  Ipliigenia.  Menelaus  is  repre- 
sented in  art  with  a  noble  and  athletic  form.  The  poets  describe 
him  as  silent,  brave,  gentle,  intelligent,  and  hospitable. 

Mercu'rius  (Hermes).  Roman  god  of  commerce  and  gain.  He 
is  identified  with  Hermes,  but  the  Fetiales  did  not  recognize  the 
identity,  and  gave  him  the  branch  of  peace  in  place  of  the  caduceus. 
His  name,  connected  with  merx  and  mercari,  sufficiently  indicate  his 
office.    His  festival  was  kept  on  the  25th  of  May,  and  observed 


He  slew  the  Calydonian  boar. 
He  gave  the  hide  to  Atalanta 
whom  he  loved,  but  the  sons 
of  Thestius,  brothers  of  Althasa, 
took  it  away  from  her.  Me- 
leager slew  them  in  revenge. 
Althsea  had  been  told  by  the 
fates  when  Meleager  was 
seven  days  old,  that  he  would 
die  when  the  firebrand  then 
on  the  hearth  was  consumed. 
Altha3a  took,  it,  extinguished 
the  flames  and  carefully  pre- 
served it.  She  was  so  angry 
at  the  murder  of  her  brothers, 
that  she  again  lighted  it,  and 
as  soon  as  it  was  burned  Mele- 


Meleager.    (Pompeii,  Painting.) 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART  467 

principally  by  merchants  who  went  to  his  well  near  the  Porta 
Capena,  said  to  have  magic  powers.  A  temple  was  built  in  his 
honor,  near  the  Circus  Maximus  b.  c.  495. 

Metrodo'rus.    The  most  distinguished  disciple  of  Epicurus. 

Mi'das  (Mida).  Son  of  Gordias.  King  .of  Phrygia  and  famous 
for  his  riches.  He  was  so  kind  to  Silenus  that  Bacchus  (Dionysus) 
allowed  him  to  ask  a  favor  of  him.  He  asked  that  all  he  touched 
should  be  turned  to  gold,  but  he  soon  begged  that  the  permission 
should  be  taken  away.  Bacchus  ordered  him  to  bathe  in  the  river 
Pactolus.  Midas  was  saved,  and  ever  after  the  river  had  much  gold 
in  its  sands.  Pan  and  Apollo  had  a  musical  contest,  and  Midas 
was  the  judge.  He  decided  for  Pan,  and  Apollo  changed  his  ears  to 
those  of  an  ass.  He  con- 
cealed them  by  a  Phrygian 
cap,  but  his  barber  saw 
them.  The  man  dared  not 
tell  this,  and  he  could  not 
keep  such  a  secret ;  so  he  dug 
a  hole  in  the  ground  and 
whispered  the  fact  to  the 
earth.  He  filled  up  the  hole, 
but  a  reed  grew  from  it,  and 
in  its  whispers  it  told  the 
truth. 

Miner 'va  (Athena).  At 
Rome  she  was  a  great  divin- 
ity and  regarded  as  the 
thinking  power,  her  name 
containing  the  same  root  as 
mens.  A  chapel  was  dedi- 
cated to  her  in  the  capitol. 
She  protected  trade  and  the 
arts  ;  guided  men  to  conquer 
in  war  by  prudence  and 
courage,  and  invented  musical 
instruments,  which  were  much 
employed    in    her    worship.  mn^wB.  (Athena.) 

Her  festival,  called  Qulnquatrus,  lasted  five  days  from  March  19. 
Besides  the  chapel  at  the  capitol  she  had  one  at  the  foot  of  the 
Coelian  Hill,  where  she  was  called  Capta,  and  another  on  the  Aven- 
tine.  The  booty  taken  in  war  was  often  dedicated  to  her.  She  is 
represented  in  a  coat  of  mail  with  helmet  and  shield. 

Minotau'rus.  A  monster  which  was  half  man  and  half  bull. 
Offspring  of  Pasiphae  and  a  bull.  Minos  compelled  Athens  to  send 
seven  youths  and  seven  maidens  to  be  given  to  this  monster,  each 
year,  until  Theseus  killed  him,  aided  by  Ariadne. 


468 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


Mi'thras.  Persian  god  of  the  sun,  worshipped  also  at  Eome.  He 
is  represented  as  young  and  handsome,  wearing  the  Phrygian  cap 
and  costume.    Usually  kneeling  on  a  bull  and  cutting  its  throat. 

Mnemos'yne.  Goddess  of  Memory.  Daughter  of  Uranus  (Heav- 
en).   Mother  of  the  Muses  by  Zeus  (Jupiter). 

Moi'rse  (Pare as ;  Fates).  They  were  three  in  number.  Clotho, 
the  spinning  Fate.  Lachesis,  the  goddess  who  assigns  his  fate  to  man. 
Atropos,  the  inevitable  fate.  These  different  offices  are  not  always 
strictly  observed  in  their  representations,  for  sometimes  the  three 
are  described  as  spinning  the  thread  of  life.  At  death  they  cut  it. 
They  are  sometimes  said  to  be  ugly  and  aged,  but  in  art  they  are 
grave  women.  Clotho  with  a  spindle  or  roll  (the  book  of  fate). 
Lachesis  points  to  a  globe  with  her  staff.  Atropos  bears  a  pair  of 
scales,  a  sun-dial,  or  some  cutting  instrument. 

Mor'pheus.  Wliose  name  signifies  the  fashioner  or  moulder,  was 
son  of  sleep,  and  god  of  dreams.  Thus  he  shapes  the  dreams  of  the 
sleeper. 

Mu'sse  (Muses).  Daughters  of  Zeus  (Jupiter)  and  Mnemosyne. 
Born  at  Pieria  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Olympus.  They  were  nine  in 
number. 

(1.)  Cli'o.  Muse  of  history.  Represented  standing  or  sitting 
with  a  chest  of  books  or  an  open  roll  of  paper. 

(2.)  Eutpype.    Muse  of  lyric  poetry.    Attribute,  a  flute. 

(3.)  Thali'a.  Muse  of  comedy  and  idyllic  poems.  Attributes,  a 
comic  mask  and  wreath  of  ivy  or  a  shepherd's  staff. 

(4.)  Melpom'ene.  Muse  of  tragedy.  Attributes,  a  tragic  mask,  a 
sword  or  club  of  Hercules.  She  wears  the  cothurnus  and  is  crowned 
with  vine  leaves. 

(5.)  Terpsicli'ore,  Muse  of  dance  and  song.  Attributes,  the  lyre 
and  plectrum. 

(6.)  Erato.  Muse  of  erotic  poetry  and  mimic  imitation.  Attri- 
bute, the  lyre. 

(1.)  Polpnniay  or  Polyliym'nia.  Muse  of  the  sublime  hymn.  Is 
represented  in  a  thoughtful,  pensive  attitude,  without  attributes. 

(8.)  Urania.  Muse  of  astronomy.  Usually  represented  pointing 
to  a  globe  with  a  staff. 

(9.)  Calliope,  or  Calliope  a.  Muse  of  epic  poetry.  Attributes, 
tablet  and  stylus,  or  a  roll  of  paper  or  a  book. 

The  favorite  localities  of  the  Muses  were  Mount  Parnassus,  with 
the  Castalian  spring,  and  Mount  Helicon,  with  the  fountains  Aganippe 
and  Hippocrene.  They  were  invoked  by  poets ;  but  all  who  en- 
deavored to  compete  with  them  were  punished.  The  Sirens  who 
had  done  so  were  robbed  of  the  feathers  of  their  wings,  which  the 
Muses  wore  as  ornaments,  and  the  nine  daughters  of  Pierus,  who 
aspired  to  be  their  rivals  were  changed  to  birds.  They  were  con- 
nected with  Apollo,  who  is  said  to  have  been  the  leader  of  their 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


469 


choir.    He  was  sometimes  called  Musagetes,    The  offerings  made 
them  were  libations  of  water,  milk,  or  honey. 
Myr'rha  (Smyrna).    Mother  of  Adonis. 

Narcis'sus.  Son  of  Cephissus  and  Liriope.  He  was  very  beau- 
tiful, but  incapable  of  love.  The  nymph  Echo,  who  was  enamored 
of  him,  died  of  sorrow.  Nemesis,  in  order  to  punish  him,  showed 
him  his  own  image  in  a  fountain,  with  which  he  was  so  charmed  that 
he  too  pined  away,  and  was  at  last  changed  into  the  flower  which 
bears  his  name. 

Neces'sitas  (Ananke  ;  Necessity).  A  powerful  goddess.  Neither 
gods  nor  men  can  resist  her.  She  has  brazen  nails  in  her  hands 
with  which  she  fixes  the  decrees  of  fate. 

Nem'esis.  A  goddess  who  in  the  earlier  times  was  believed  to 
measure  out  the  lot  of  mortals,  to  control  their  happiness  or  misery, 
and  to  send  suffering  to  those  who  have  too  many  good  gifts.  Later 
she  has  been  regarded  as  more  like  the  Furies  or  Erinnyes,  who  pun- 
ished crimes.  Her  surnames  are  Adrastia  and  Rhamnusia  or  Rham- 
nusis ;  the  last  from  an  Attic  town  Rhamnus,  where  she  had  her  most 
celebrated  temple. 

Neoptoremus  (Pyrrhus).  Son  of  Achilles  and  Deidamia,  daugh- 
ter of  King  Lycomedes.  He  was  called  Neoptolemus,  on  account  of 
going  to  Troy  late  in  the  war,  and  Pyrrhus  on  account  of  his  golden 
hair.  He  was  reared  in  the  palace  of  his  grandfather  at  Scyros,  and 
was  taken  to  Troy  by  Ulysses,  on  account  of  a  prophecy  which  said 
that  Neoptolemus  and  Philoctetes  were  necessary  to  the  taking  of 
Troy.  He  was  one  of  the  heroes  concealed  in  the  wooden  horse,  and 
was  a  brave  warrior.  He  killed  Priam  and  sacrificed  Polyxena  to  the 
spirit  of  Achilles.  In  the  distribution  of  the  booty,  Andromache, 
the  widow  of  Hector,  fell  to  his  share.  He  abandoned  his  native 
Thessaly  after  this  war  and  lived  in  Epirus,  where  he  became  the 
ancestor  of  the  Molossian  kings.  He  married  Hermione,  daughter 
of  Menelaus,  but  was  killed  in  a  combat  with  Orestes  to  whom  she 
had  previously  been  betrothed.  From  his  father  he  is  sometimes 
called  Achillides,  and  P elides  and  JEacides  from  his  grandfather  and 
great  grandfather. 

Neptu'nus  (Poseidon).  The  chief  maritime  god  of  the  Ro- 
mans ;  identified  with  the  Greek  Poseidon.  The  early  Romans 
were  not  a  maritime  nation,  and  little  is  known  of  the  worship  of 
this  god.  At  his  festivals  the  people  made  tents,  unibrce^  of  the 
branches  of  trees,  and  enjoyed  feasting  and  drinking.  See  Po- 
seidon. 

Nere'ides  (Nereids).  The  fifty  daughters  of  Nereus  and  Doris. 
Nymphs  of  the  Mediterranean,  and  distinct  from  Naiades  avIio  were 
nymphs  of  fresh  water,  and  from  Oceanides^  nymphs  of  the  great 
oceans.  They  were  very  beautiful,  and  dwelt  at  the  bottom  of  the 
sea.     They  were  kind  to  sailors.    Thetis,  the  mother  of  Achilles, 


470 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


was  a  Nereid.  They  are  usually  represented  as  beautiful  maidens, 
but  sometimes  as  half  maidens  and  half  fishes,  especially  on  ancient 
gems. 

Ne'reus.  Son  of  Pontus  and  Gaea.  Husband  of  Doris  and 
father  of  fifty  daughters.  He  dwelt  at  the  bottom  of  his  empire  the 
Mediterranean  Sea,  or  especially  the  ^gean  Sea,  and  he  is  hence 
sometimes  called  the  ^gean.  He  acted  an  important  part  in  the 
story  of  Hercules.  He  had  the  gift  of  prophecy,  and  was  wise  and 
unerring.  He  is  sometimes  represented  with  sea-weed  in  place  of 
eyebrows,  beard,  and  hair. 

Nes'sus.  The  centaur  who  carried  travellers  across  the  river 
Evenus.    See  Hercules. 


Ni'obe  (Nioba).  Daughter  of  Tantalus.  Wife  of  Amphion, 
king  of  Thebes.  She  was  so  proud  of  the  number  of  her  children 
that  she  boasted  herself  as  superior  to  Leto  (Latona)  who  had  but 
two  children.  The  number  of  those  of  Niobe  is  usually  given  as 
seven  sons  and  seven  daughters.  Apollo  and  Artemis  (Diana)  so 
heartily  espoused  the  cause  of  Leto  that  they  killed  the  children  of 


Niobe  and  her  children.  (Florence.) 


I  NQTOZ 


wr 


Niobe  with  their  arrows.  Zeus 
(eJupiter)  metamorphosed  Niobe 
into  a  stone,  and  placed  it  on 
Mount  Sipylus  in  Lydia. 
During  the  summer  this  stone 
always  shed  tears.  The  story 
of  Niobe  was  a  favorite  subject 
of  ancient  art. 


No'tus      (Auster).  The 


Notus.  (Athens.) 


South  or  Southwest  wind.  It 
brouo:ht  rains  and  fo^:. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


471 


Oce'anus.  Son  of  Uranus  (Heaven)  and  Gaea  (Earth).  Hus- 
band of  Tetliys  and  father  of  all  the  river  gods  and  water  nymphs 
in  the  whole  earth.  He  was  especially  the  deity  of  the  Atlantic, 
or  the  water  without  the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  in  distinction  from  the 
Mediterranean,  or  the  sea  within  them.  Hence  the  Atlantic  was 
often  called  Oceanus. 

QEd'ipus.  Son  of  Laius,  king  of  Thebes,  and  of  Jocasta,  sister 
of  Creon.  His  father  exposed  him  on  Mount  Cithseron,  because  an 
oracle  had  said  that  he  should  die  by  the  hand  of  his  son.  His 
feet  were  pierced  and  tied  together,  and  when  he  was  found  by  a 
shepherd  of  Polybus,  king  of  Corinth,  they  were  so  swollen  that  he 
was  on  that  account  named  QEdipus.  Polybus  reared  him  as  his 
own  child,  but  when  he  was  grown  the  Delphic  oracle  declared  to  him 
that  he  was  fated  to  kill  his  father  and  commit  incest  with  his  mother. 
Believing  that  Polybus  was  his  father,  he  determined  not  to  return  to 
Corinth,  and  on  his  way  to  Daulis  he  met  Laius  whom  he  killed  with- 
out knowing  that  it  was  his  father.  About  this  time  the  celebrated 
Sphinx  appeared  near  Thebes.  The  monster  was  seated  on  a  rock, 
and  put  a  riddle  to  every  Theban  that  passed.  If  not  able  to 
answer  he  was  killed.  The  Thebans  proclaimed  that  he  who  would 
answer  the  riddle  should  have  the  kingdom  and  Jocasta  for  his  wife. 
The  riddle  was  as  follows  :  "  A  being  with  four  feet,  has  two  feet 
and  three  feet,  and  only  one  voice  ;  and  when  it  has  most  it  is  weak- 
est." (Edipus  declared  that  it  was  man :  that  in  childhood  he  went 
upon  all  fours,  in  manhood  upon  two  feet,  and  in  old  age  supported 
himself  with  a  staff.  The  Sphinx  threw  herself  down  from  the  rock. 
Then  (Edipus  married  his  mother  and  was  made  king.  She  bore  to 
him  Eteocles,  Polynices,  Antigone,  and  Ismene.  A  plague  was  sent 
upon  Thebes  in  consequence  of  this  incest.  The  oracle  was  con- 
sulted and  declared  that  the  murderer  of  Laius  must  be  expelled. 
Tiresias,  a  seer,  told  (Edipus  that  he  was  the  guilty  one.  Then  he 
put  out  his  own  eyes,  and  wandered  away  from  Thebes,  accom- 
panied by  his  daughter  Antigone.  Jocasta  hung  herself  when  she 
knew  the  truth.  CEdipus  went  to  Attica,  whence  he  was  taken 
away  by  the  Furies  or  Eumenides.  His  fate  was  the  subject  of 
many  tragic  poems. 

(Eno'ne.  Daughter  of  the  river-god  Cebren.  Wife  of  Paris  be- 
fore he  carried  Helen  away. 

Om'phale.  Daughter  of  lardanus.  Wife  of  Tmolus,  and  queen 
of  Lydia,  after  his  death.     (See  Hercules). 

Or'cus.     See  Hades. 

Ores'tes.  Son  of  Agamemnon  and  Clytfcmnestra.  Husband  of 
Hermione.  When  iEgisthus  and  his  mother  murdered  Agamem- 
non, his  life  was  saved  by  his  sister  Electra,  who  sent  him  to  Stro- 
phius,  king  of  Phocis,  who  had  married  the  sister  of  Agamemnon. 
He  became  the  dear  friend  of  Pylades,  the  king's  son,  and  when  a 


472 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


man  went  to  Argos  with  him  and  avenged  the  death  of  his  father. 
He  slew  both  Clytaemnestra  and  ^gisthus.  After  killing  his 
mother  he  was  mad,  and  went  from  land  to  land  pursued  by  Furies. 
Apollo  at  length  advised  him  to  go  to  Athens  and  have  his  case 
judged  by  the  court  of  the  Areopagus.  This  he  did,  and  took 
refuge  in  the  temple  of  Athena  (Minerva).  He  was  acquitted  by 
the  court.  Another  tradition  relates  that  Apollo  told  him  that  he 
could  only  recover  his  reason  by  bringing  the  statue  of  Artemis 
(Diana)  from  the  Tauric  Chersonesus.  He  went  there  with  Pylades. 
The  natives  seized  and  were  about  to  sacrifice  them,  when  Iphige- 
nla  who  was  the  priestess,  and  also  the  sister  of  Orestes,  recognized 
him.  She  saved  their  lives,  and  the  three  escaped,  bearing  with 
them  the  image.  After  their  return  Orestes  obtained  his  father's 
kingdom  of  Mycenas,  and  after  killing  Neoptolemus  married  Hermi- 
one. 

Ori'on.  Son  of  Hyrieus  of  Hyria  in  Boeotia.  He  was  a  giant 
hunter  and  very  handsome.  He  went  to  Chios,  where  he  loved 
Merope,  daughter  of  (Enopion.  He  so  treated  the  maiden  that  her 
father  with  the  help  of  Dionysus  (Bacchus)  put  out  his  eyes.  An 
oracle  told  him  that  he  could  recover  his  sight  by  exposing  his  eyes 
to  the  rising  sun.  He  went  to  Lemnos,  and  Hephsestus  (Vulcan) 
sent  Cedalion  as  his  guide  to  the  east.  After  his  sight  was  restored 
he  lived  with  Artemis  (Diana)  as  a  hunter.  His  death  is  attribu- 
ted to  various  causes.  One  tradition  relates  that  Aurora  (Eos) 
carried  him  away,  and  as  this  displeased  the  gods,  Artemis  shot  him 
with  an  arrow  in  Ortygia.  Another,  that  he  was  loved  by  Artemis, 
which  displeased  Apollo,  and  he  challenged  her  to  hit  a  mark  that 
he  pointed  out  to  her  on  the  water.  She  aimed  but  too  well,  for 
the  mark  was  the  head  of  Orion  who  was  swimming.  Horace 
relates  that  Orion  offered  an  insult  to  Artemis,  who  then  killed 
him.  Again  it  is  said  that  he  was  stung  by  a  scorpion,  and  ^scu- 
lapius  was  killed  by  lightning  sent  by  Zeus  (Jupiter)  when  he  at- 
tempted to  cure  him  of  the  poison.  After  his  death  he  was  set 
among  the  stars,  where  he  is  represented  as  a  giant  with  a  lion's 
skin,  a  club,  a  sword,  and  a  girdle.  His  constellation  set  at  the  be- 
ginning of  November,  the  season  of  rains  and  storms.  Hence  his 
names  are  nimbosus  or  aquosus  and  imhrifer. 

Orithy'ia.  Daughter  of  Erechtheus,  king  of  Athens,  and  Prax- 
ithea.  Boreas  carried  her  off  to  Thrace,  where  she  became  the 
mother  of  Cleopatra,  Chione,  Zetes,  and  Calais. 

Or'pheus.  A  mythical  poet,  called  the  son  of  (Eagrus  and 
Calliope.  He  accompanied  the  Argonautic  expedition.  Apollo  gave 
him  a  lyre,  and  the  Muses  taught  him  how  to  play.  He  enchanted 
everything  that  had  life,  and  even  trees  and  rocks,  so  that  they 
would  follow  him.  After  his  return  from  Crete  he  married  the 
nymph  Eurydice  and  dwelt  in  Thrace.     She  died  from  the  bite 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


473 


of  a  serpent.  Orpheus  followed  her  to  Hades,  where  the  charm 
of  his  music  caused  the  torments 
to  cease.  Pluto  consented  that 
Eurydice  should  accompany  him 
to  the  upper  world,  on  condition 
that  he  should  not  look  back 
while  upon  his  way.  This  he 
refrained  from  doing  until  he 
reached  the  threshold,  when  he 
turned  his  head  and  Eurydice 
fell  back  to  Hades.  His  grief  for 
his  wife  was  so  great  that  he 
scorned  the  Thracian  women,  and 
they  in  revenge  tore  him  to  pieces 
in  their  Bacchic  feasts.  The 
Muses  collected  the  fragments  of 
his  body  and  buried  them  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Olympus.  His  head 
was  thrown  into  the  Hebrus  and  rolled  to  the  sea,  and  was  carried 
to  Lesbos.  His  lyre  was  also  said  to  be  carried  there,  but  these  two 
stories  are  only  illustrations  of  the  truth,  that  Lesbos  was  the  first 
place  where  the  music  of  the  lyre  became  noted.  Another  tradition 
relates  that  his  lyre  was  placed  by  Zeus  (Jupiter)  among  the  stars. 

Pallas.    One  of  the  names  of  Athena  or  Minerva. 

Pan.  Son  of  Hermes  (Mercury).  God  of  flocks  and  herds. 
Arcadia  was  the  source  and 
principal  place  of  his  worship. 
From  here  it  was  carried  to 
all  Greece.  He  is  identified 
with  Faunus,  and  like  him 
represented  as  sensual,  with 
goats'  feet,  pug  nose,  and 
horns.  He  is  merry,  and  often 
dances  and  plays  the  syrinx, 
which  he  invented.  He  was 
mischievous  and  dreaded  by 
travellers,  whom  he  often  sur- 
prised with  some  sudden  fear 
with  no  apparent  cause,  hence 

called  a  Panic.  Pan.    (Bronze  Relief.  Pompeii.) 

Pando'ra.  The  first  woman  on  earth.  When  Prometheus  stole 
the  fire  from  heaven,  Zeus  (Jupiter)  in  order  to  avenge  himself, 
caused  Hephaestus  (Vulcan)  to  make  a  woman  out  of  earth,  whose 
charms  should  bring  misery  on  men.  Aphrodite  (Venus)  gave  her 
beauty,  and  Hermes  (Mercury)  gave  her  cunning  boldness.  She 
was  called  the  all-gifted,  or  Pandora.  She  had  a  box  containing 
every  human  ill.    Hermes  brought  her  to  Epimetheus,  who  was  so 


Orpheus.   (Mosaic. ) 


474 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


charmed  with  her  that  he  forgot  that  Prometheus  had  told  him  not 
to  accept  any  gift  from  the  gods,  and  took  her  for  his  wife.  She 
opened  the  box  and  the  ills  spread  over  all  the  earth.  Hope  was 
the  only  blessing  which  was  there.  Later  writers  say  that  the  box 
contained  choice  blessings  destined  for  humanity  by  the  gods,  but 
that  when  she  opened  the  box  these  blessings  being  light  and  hav- 
ing wings  escaped. 

Par'cae.    (See  Moirae). 

Par'is  (Alexander).  Son  of  Priam  and  Hecuba.  Before  his 
birth  his  mother  dreamed  that  she  had  brought  forth  a  firebrand 
which  set  all  the  city  on  fire.  Hence  he  was  exposed  on  Mount 
Ida,  but  was  taken  and  brought  up  by  a  shepherd  who  named  him. 
When  grown  he  so  defended  the  shepherds  and  flocks  that  he  was 
called  Alexander,  the  defender  of  men.  He  at  length  discovered 
his  parentage  and  was  received  by  Priam  as  his  son.  He  married 
OEnone,  the  daughter  of  the  river-god  Cebren,  whom  he  soon  de- 
serted for  Helen.  The  reason  of  his  going  to  Greece,  was  that  he 
offended  Hera  (Juno)  and  Athena  (Minerva).  He  went  away  under 
the  protection  of  Aphrodite  (Venus).  The  cause  of  this  anger 
arose  from  the  wedding  of  Peleus  and  Thetis,  to  which  all  the  gods 
were  invited  save  Discordia.  She  being  angry  threw  a  golden  ap- 
ple among  the  company,  inscribed  To  the  fairest."  Then  Hera, 
Athena,  and  Aphrodite  claimed  it,  and  Zeus  sent  Hermes  (Mercury) 
to  conduct  them  to  Paris  that  he  might  decide  between  them.  He 
gave  the  apple  to  Aphrodite,  which  was  the  cause  of  all  the  ensuing 
troubles,  for  the  two  rejected  beauties  persecuted  Paris  until  he  was 
driven  to  Greece,  where  being  received  at  the  house  of  Menelaus  he 
loved  Helen  and  carried  her  to  Troy.  She  was  the  most  beautiful 
woman  in  the  world,  and  had  been  wooed  by  many  suitors,  who  now 
joined  her  husband  to  assist  him  to  redress  this  wrong.  Hence  the  ten 
years'  siege  of  Troy.  Paris  would  have  been  killed  by  Menelaus 
with  whom  he  fought,  but  Aphrodite  carried  him  away  in  a  cloud. 
He  is  said  to  have  killed  Achilles.  (See  Achilles).  At  the  capture 
of  Troy  he  was  wounded  by  Philoctetes  with  one  of  the  poisoned 
arrows  of  Hercules.  He  then  returned  to  CEnone  and  desired  her 
to  cure  the  wound,  which  she  refused  to  do,  and  he  died.  Then 
CEnone  repented  and  killed  herself  Paris  is  represented  in  art  as 
young,  without  a  beard,  and  in  a  Phrygian  cap. 

Parnas'sus.  A  mountain  range  in  Doris  and  Phocis.  Its  two 
highest  summits  near  Delphi  were  called  Tithorea  and  Lycorea ; 
these  are  the  parts  usually  referred  to,  and  from  them  is  Parnassus 
called  "  double-headed."  It  contained  many  caves,  ravines,  glens, 
and  romantic  spots.  The  sides  were  wooded,  the  top  covered  with 
snow,  while  olives,  myrtles,  and  laurel  grew  at  its  foot.  It  was  the 
favorite  home  of  Apollo  and  the  Muses.  Here  song  and  music  were 
inspired.    The  Muses  are  called  Corycian  nymphs,  from  the  cave  of 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


475 


that  name  on  Mount  Lycorea.  The  famed  Castalian  spring  issued 
from  between  two  cliffs  near  Delphi.  These  cliffs,  named  Nauplia 
and  Hyamplia,  were  called  summits  of  Parnassus.  They  are  in 
reality  but  small  peaks  and  near  the  base  of  the  mountain.  The 
Thyades  held  their  Bacchic  revels  on  a  summit  of  Mount  Parnassus, 
for  it  was  sacred  to  Dionysus  (Bacchus)  as  well  as  to  Apollo.  The 
sacred  road  to  Daulis  and  Stiris  from  Delphi  ran  between  Mount 
Cirphis  and  Parnassus  proper.  Where  this  road  branched  was  the 
scene  of  the  murder  of  Laius  by  (Edipus. 

Pasiph'ae.  Daughter  of  Helios  (the  sun)  and  Perseis.  Wife  of 
Minos.  Mother  of  Androgeos,  Ariadne,  and  Phsedra.  Mother 
also  of  the  monster  Minotaur,  half  man  and  half  bull. 

Patro'clus  (Patrocles).  Son  of  Menoetius  of  Opus  and  Sthe- 
nele.  Grandson  of  Actor  and  ^gina,  hence  called  Actorides.  He 
accidentally  committed  murder  while  a  boy,  and  his  father  took  liim 


Patroclus  (^gina  Marbles). 


to  Peleus  at  Phthia.  Here  he  became  the  friend  of  Achilles.  He 
accompanied  the  latter  to  Troy,  and  when  Achilles  retired  from  the 
fight  Patroclus  did  the  same.  At  length  Achilles  lent  him  his  arms, 
and  he  led  the  Myrmidons  to  battle.  He  was  slain  by  Hector,  and 
a  desire  to  avenge  his  death  led  Achilles  again  to  take  the  field. 

Peg'asus.  The  winged  horse  which  sprang  from  the  blood  of 
Medusa,  when  Perseus  struck  off  her  head.  While  he  drank  at  the 
fountain  of  Pirene  on  the  Acrocorinthus,  Bellerophon  caught  him 
with  a  golden  bridle  which  he  had  received  from  Athena  (Minerva). 
It  was  on  account  of  having  Pegasus,  that  Bellerophon  was  able  to 
kill  the  Chimsera,  but  when  he  attempted  to  fly  to  heaven  he  fell 
and  was  killed.  (Bellerophon).  Pegasus  kept  on  to  heaven  and 
dwelt  among  the  stars.  The  fountain  of  Hippocrene  in  Mount  Heli- 
con in  Boeotia,  sacred  to  the  Muses,  sprang  from  the  spot  where 
Pegasus  struck  the  ground  with  his  hoof  He  is  regarded  as  the 
horse  of  the  Muses  and  in  later  times  he  is  most  considered  in  this 
connection. 

Peleus.  Son  of  JEacus  and  Endeis.  King  of  the  Myrmidons  at 
Phthia  in  Thessaly.    Husband  of  Antigone  and  Thetis.  Father 


476 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


of  Achilles.  Together  with  his  brother  Telamon,  he  murdered  his 
half  brother  Phocus.  For  this  he  was  expelled  from  ^gina,  and 
fled  to  Thessaly.  Here  he  was  purified  by  Eurytion,  son  of  Actor, 
who  gave  his  daughter  Antigone  and  a  third  part  of  his  kingdom  to 
Peleus.  He  then  went  to  a  boar-hunt  where  he  accidentally  killed 
his  father-in-law.  Again  he  became  a  wanderer  and  took  refuge  at 
lolcus ;  was  again  purified  by  Acastus,  the  king  of  that  country, 
and  inspired  Astydamia,  wife  of  Acastus,  with  a  wicked  love. 
When  she  found  no  return  to  her  passion  she  accused  him  falsely, 
and  he  was  driven  to  Mount  Pelion,  where  he  almost  perished. 
There  he  met  Thetis,  a  Nereid,  whose  fate  was  to  marry  a  mortal. 
She  had  the  power  to  assume  any  form  she  chose,  and  she  attempted 
to  escape  Peleus  by  becoming  an  animal,  but  he  had  been  instructed 
by  Chiron,  and  he  held  her  fast  wliile  he  persuaded  her  to  marry 
him.  By  her  he  became  the  father  of  Achilles.  He  was  too  aged 
to  go  to  the  siege  of  Troy,  and  survived  his  heroic  son.  It  was  at 
the  wedding  of  Peleus  and  Thetis  that  the  golden  apple  was  thrown 
by  Eris,  or  Strife. 

Pelias.  Son  of  Poseidon  (Neptune)  and  Tyro,  daughter  of  Sal- 
moneus.  Twin-brother  of  Neleus.  These  twins  were  exposed  by 
their  mother,  but  were  found  and  reared  by  some  countrymen.  They 
discovered  their  origin.  Cretheus,  king  of  lolcus,  had  married  their 
mother,  and  after  his  death,  they  seized  his  throne  and  excluded  his 
son  JEson.  Soon  after,  Pelias  excluded  his  brother  and  became  sole 
ruler  of  lolcus.  Years  after,  Jason,  the  son  of  ^son,  came  to  claim 
the  throne.  Pelias,  in  order  to  get  rid  of  him,  sent  him  to  Colchis 
to  obtain  the  golden  fleece.  He  fitted  out  the  Argonautic  expedi- 
tion for  this  purpose,  and  returned  with  Medea,  who  persuaded  the 
daughters  of  Pelias  to  cut  their  father  to  pieces  and  boil  him,  in 
hopes  to  restore  him  to  youth.  His  son  Acastus  held  funeral  games 
in  his  honor  at  lolcus.  He  expelled  Jason  and  Medea  from  the 
country. 

Pe'lops.  Son  of  Tantalus,  king  of  Phrygia.  Grandson  of  Zeus 
(Jupiter).  Husband  of  Hippodamia,  daughter  of  OEnomaus.  He 
brought  with  him  so  much  wealth,  and  acquired  so  much  influence, 
that  Elis  was  called  the  "  Island  of  Pelops."  The  principal  events 
of  his  life  are  :  (l.)  He  was  cut  to  pieces  and  boiled.  Tantalus,  his 
father,  was  a  favorite  of  the  gods,  and  once  made  a  repast  to  which 
he  invited  them.  On  that  occasion  he  killed  Pelops  and  cooked 
him  that  the  gods  might  devour  him ;  but  they,  knowing  all  things, 
immediately  perceived  of  what  the  dish  was  composed,  and  would 
not  eat  it,  except  Demeter  (Ceres)  who  was  so  absorbed  in  grief  at 
the  loss  of  Proserpina,  that  she  heeded  not  and  ate  a  shoulder. 
The  gods  commanded  Hermes  (Mercury)  to  put  him  in  another 
cauldron  and  restore  him  to  life.  This  was  done,  and  when  Clotho 
took  him  out  of  the  cauldron  the  shoulder  was  wanting.  Demeter 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


477 


(Ceres)  made  one  of  ivory,  and  the  PeloindcE,  his  descendants,  were 
believed  to  have  an  ivory  shoulder.  (2.)  Contest  ivith  CEnomaus  and 
Hippodamia.  An  oracle  had  declared  that  CEnomaus  should  be 
killed  by  his  son-in-law,  therefore  he  vowed  that  no  one  should 
marry  his  daughter  unless  he  could  conquer  him  in  a  chariot  race, 
moreover  all  who  attempted  to  do  so  and  failed,  were  to  suffer  death. 
He  thought  himself  safe  in  this,  as  his  horses  were  the  fleetest  in  all 
the  earth.  Many  suitors  had  been  sacrificed  when  Pelops  came  to 
Pisa.  He  promised  Myrtilus,  the  charioteer  of  CEnomaus,  one  half 
the  kingdom  if  he  would  help  him  to  conquer.  Myrtilus  took  out 
the  linch-pins  of  the  chariot  so  that  it  broke  down,  and  Pelops  was 
victorious.  Thus  Hippodamia  became  his  wife,  and  he  threw  Myrti- 
lus into  the  sea  to  avoid  fulfilling  his  promise  of  dividing  his  king- 
dom. As  the  charioteer  sank,  he  cursed  Pelops  and  all  his  race. 
Pelops  then  went  with  Hippodamia  to  Pisa  in  Elis,  where  he  re- 
stored the  Olympian  games  with  great  splendor.  His  son  Chrysip- 
pus  was  his  favorite,  and  this  so  roused  the  jealousy  of  Atreus  and 
Thyestes  that  they  killed  him  with  the  assistance  of  their  mother, 
and  threw  him  into  a  well.  Pelops  suspected  the  truth,  and  drove 
them  from  the  kingdom.  After  death,  Pelops  was  honored  at  Olym- 
pus more  than  all  other  mortal  heroes.  His  name  was  so  celebrated 
that  it  was  used  as  often  as  possible  in  connection  with  his  descend- 
ants. Hence  his  son  was  called  Pelope'ius  Atreus,  and  his  grandson 
Pelopeius  Agamemnon.  Iphigenia  and  Hermione  were  called  Pelop- 
e'ia  virgo,  while  Virgil  calls  the  cities  in  Peloponnesus  which  Pelops 
and  his  descendants  ruled,  Pelopea  moenia.  Mycenae  is  called  Pel- 
opeiades  Mycence  by  Ovid. 

Penerope.  Daughter  of  Icarius  and  Periboea  of  Sparta.  Wife 
of  Ulysses  king  of 
Ithaca.  Her  father 
had  promised  to 
give  her  to  the  con- 
queror in  a  foot- 
race ;  but  when 
Ulysses  won  it,  Ica- 
rius tried  to  per- 
suade his  daughter 
to  remain  with  him  ; 
she  blushingly  cov- 
ered her  face  with 
her  veil,  thus  inti- 
mating that  she 
would  follow  Ulys- 
ses. She  had  one 
child,  Telemachus, 
an    infant,  when 

Ulysses    sailed    for  Penelope.   (British  Museum.) 


478 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


Troy.  During  his  absence  she  was  besieged  by  suitors,  but  she 
deceived  them  by  declaring  that  she  must  finish  a  robe  for  her 
father-in-law,  Laertes,  before  she  could  listen  to  them.  She  worked 
upon  this  robe  by  day  and  unraveled  it  at  night,  and  thus  put 
off  her  lovers,  until  the  stratagem  was  exposed  by  her  servants. 
Then  was  she  more  pressed  than  before.  Ulysses  returned  at  the 
end  of  twenty  years,  and  was  most  joyfully  received  by  Penelope. 
Homer  represents  Penelope  as  thus  faithful  to  Ulysses,  and  it  is  the 
character  usually  attributed  to  her,  but  later  writers  charge  her  with 
being  the  mother  of  Pan  by  Hermes  (Mercury),  or  by  all  her  suitors  ; 
and  these  add  that  Ulysses  repudiated  her  on  his  return,  and  that  she 
then  went  to  Sparta  and  thence  to  Mantinea.  Another  tradition 
relates  that  Telegonus  killed  Ulysses  and  then  married  Penelope. 

Penthesile'a.  Daughter  of  Ares  (Mars)  and  Otrera.  Queen 
of  the  Amazons.  She  assisted  the  Trojans  after  Hector  was  killed, 
and  was  herself  slain  by  Achilles.  He  mourned  sincerely  over  his 
victim  on  account  of  her  youth,  beauty,  and  bravery.  When  Ther- 
sites  ridiculed  this  grief,  Achilles  killed  him  also.  Then  Diomedes, 
who  was  a  relative  of  Thersites,  threw  her  body  into  the  Scamander. 
Others  say  that  Achilles  buried  her  on  the  banks  of  the  Xanthus. 

Perseph'one  (Proserpina).  Daughter  of  Zeus  (Jupiter)  and  De- 
meter  (Ceres).  In  Attica  she  was  called  Koprj,  i.  e.  the  daughter, 
and  when  with  Demeter,  they  were  often  called  The  Mother  and 
Daughter."  She  was  the  wife  of  Hades  (Pluto),  queen  of  the  lower 
world  and  the  shades  of  the  dead.  Hence  she  is  called  Juno  Inferna, 
Averna,  and  Sty g la.  Mother  of  the  Eumenides,  Erinnyes  or  Furies. 
For  story  of  the  rape  of  Persephone,  see  Demeter.  She  is  repre- 
sented in  works  of  art  grave  and  severe,  as  would  become  the  queen 
of  the  lower  world. 

Per'seus.  Son  of  Jupiter  (Zeus)  and  Danae.  Grandson  of  Acrisius. 
Husband  of  Andromeda.  Acrisius  had  been  warned  by  an  oracle  that 
he  should  perish  by  the  hand  of  the  son  of  Danae,  so  he  shut  her  in  a 
brazen  tower.  Zeus  visited  her  here  in  the  form  of  a  shower  of  gold 
and  became  the  fiither  of  Perseus.  Hence  he  is  called  Aurigena, 
When  Acrisius  discovered  the  birth  of  the  boy,  he  put  both  him  and 
his  mother  into  a  chest,  and  cast  it  into  the  sea,  but  Zeus  carried  it 
ashore  at  Seriphos,  one  of  the  Cyclades,  where  they  were  found  by 
a  fisherman,  Dictys,  who  carried  them  to  king  Polydectes.  He  re- 
ceived them  kindly,  and  fell  in  love  with  Danae.  He  desired  to  be 
rid  of  Perseus,  and  sent  him  to  kill  Medusa  and  bring  to  him  her 
head.  With  the  assistance  of  Athena  (Minerva)  and  guided  by 
Hermes  (Mercury)  he  went  to  the  Graeme,  sisters  of  the  Gorgons,  and 
took  away  their  one  tooth  and  one  eye,  and  would  not  restore  them 
till  they  showed  him  where  the  nymphs  lived  who  had  the  helmet  of 
Hades  (Pluto),  the  winged  sandals,  and  the  magic  wallet.  He  ob- 
tained all  these.    Hermes  gave  him  a  sickle,  and  Athena  a  mirror. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  AllT. 


479 


He  then  flew  to  Tartessus,  the  abode  of  the  Gorgons.  He  arrived 
when  they  were  asleep,  and  cut  off  the  head  of  Medusa  by  looking  in 
the  mirror,  for  if  he  had  looked  at  her  he  would  have  become  stone. 
He  placed  the  head  in  the  magic  wallet  which  was  on  his  back.  The 
other  Gorgons  pursued  him,  but  by  his  helmet  he  became  invisible  and 
thus  escaped.  He  then  went  to  Ethiopia,  where  he  saved  Andro- 
meda, and  married  her.  (See  Andromeda.)  It  is  said  that  he  changed 
Atlas  to  a  mountain  by  the  sight  of  the  head  of  Medusa.  On  his 
return  to  Seriphus  he  found  that  Polydectes  had  so  persecuted  Danae 
that  she  had  sought  refuge  in  the  temple.  He  then  turned  the  king 
and  all  his  guests  to  stone.  He  at  length  gave  the  head  of  Medusa 
to  Athena,  who  put  it  in  the  centre  of  her  breast-plate.  He  took 
Danae  and  Andromeda  to  Argos.  His  grandfather,  fearing  lest  the 
prophecy  of  the  oracle  should  be  fulfilled,  escaped  to  Larissa.  Per- 
seus followed  him  in  disguise  to  endeavor  to  persuade  him  to  return, 
but  while  taking  part  in  the  games  there  he  threw  the  discus  in  such 
a  way  that  Acrisius  was  killed  by  it  without  his  intention.  Then 
Perseus  took  the  government  of  Tiryns  and  left  Argos  to  Megapen- 
thes,  son  of  Proetus. 

Phse'dra.  Daughter  of  Minos.  Wife  of  Theseus.  She  falsely 
accused  her  step-son  Hippolytus.  After  his  death  her  treachery 
became  known  and  she  destroyed  herself. 

Pha'ethon  {i.  e.  "the  shining").  Son  of  Helios  and  Clymene. 
He  teased  his  father  to  allow  him  to  drive  the  chariot  of  the  sun 
across  the  heavens  for  one  day.  Clymene  added  her  request,  and 
Helios  yielded  to  them,  but  the  boy  was  too  weak,  the  horses  went 
out  of  their  course  and  came  so  near  the  earth  as  almost  to  set  it  on 
fire.  Then  Zeus  (Jupiter)  killed  Phsethon  with  a  flash  of  lightning 
and  hurled  him  into  the  river  Eridanus.  The  Heliadce  or  Phaetlion- 
tiades,  who  were  his  sisters  and  had  yoked  the  horses,  were  turned 
into  poplars  and  their  tears  into  amber. 

Philocte'tes.  Son  of  Poeas  and  called  Poeantiades.  He  was 
the  most  skillful  archer  in  the  Trojan  war.  The  friend  and  armor- 
bearer  of  Hercules,  he  had  lighted  the  pile  on  Mount  (Eta  on  which 
Hercules  died,  and  for  this  service  received  the  bow  and  the  poisoned 
arrows  of  the^hero.  On  his  way  to  Troy,  when  on  the  island  of 
Chryse,  he  was  wounded  by  one  of  these  arrows  or  bitten  by  a  ser- 
pent on  his  foot,  and  the  stench  from  this  wound  was  so  unendurable, 
that  Ulysses  advised  his  companions  to  leave  him  at  Lemnos.  He 
remained  there  until  the  last  year  of  the  Trojan  war,  when  an  oracle 
declared  that  Troy  could  not  be  taken  without  the  arrows  of  Her- 
cules. Then  Philoctetes  was  brought  and  his  wound  healed  by 
^sculapius.  He  slew  many  Trojans,  Paris  among  the  number.  He 
went  from  Troy  to  Italy. 

Phin'eus.  (l.)  Son  of  Belus  and  Anchinoe.  Slain  by  Per- 
seus.   See  Perseus.    (2.)  Son  of  Agenor.    King  of  Salmydessus. 


480 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


A  soothsayer.  He  put  out  the  eyes  of  his  sons  who  had  been 
falsely  accused  by  their  step-mother,  Idsea.  The  gods  then  made 
him  blind  and  sent  Harpies  to  torment  him.  (See  Harpy iae.) 
Zetes  and  Calais,  sons  of  Boreas,  freed  him  from  these  tormentors. 
In  return  he  explained  the  course  which  the  Argonautic  expedition 
should  take.     Some  say  he  was  slain  by  Hercules. 

Phoe'be.  (l.)  The  feminine  of  Phoebus,  and  one  of  the  appella- 
tions of  Diana  ^  when  Luna  or  the  goddess  of  the  Moon.  (2.) 
Daughter  of  Tyndareus  and  Leda.     Sister  of  Clytsemnestra. 

Phoe'bus.  One  of  the  appellations  of  Apollo,  meaning  bright  or 
pure. 

Ploti'na  (Pompeia).  Wife  of  the  emperor  Trajan.  She  per- 
suaded him  to  adopt  Hadrian. 

Plu'to  (Pluton).  The  giver  of  wealth.  A  surname  of  Hades, 
afterward  used  as  the  name  of  a  god.    See  Hades. 

Plu'tus.  Son  of  lasion  and  Demeter  (Ceres).  God  of  wealth. 
Zeus  (Jupiter)  took  away  his  sight,  that  he  might  distribute  his  gifts 
blindly  and  without  regard  to  merit. 

Pollux  (Polydeuces).     See  Dioscuri. 

Pol'ybus.   King  of  Corinth,  who  reared  OEdipus.    See  GEdipus. 
Polym'nia.    See  Musag. 

Polyx'ena.  Daughter  of  Priam  and  Hecuba.  Loved  by  Achil- 
les. When  the  Greeks  lingered  on  the  coast  of  Thrace  on  their 
homeward  voyage,  the  shade  of  Achilles  appeared  and  demanded 
that  she  should  be  sacrificed  to  him.  Neoptolemus  slew  her  on  the 
tomb  of  his  father. 

Pomo'na.  Roman  goddess  of  fruit.  Called  also  Pomorum  Pa- 
trona.  Silvanus,  Picus,  Yertumnus,  and  several  other  rustic  divinities, 
loved  her. 

Posei'don  (Neptunus).  Son  of  Cronus  (Saturn)  and  Rhea.  Called 
also  Ci^onius  and  Saturnius.  Brother  of  Zeus  (Jupiter)  and  Hades 
(Pluto).  Wlien  the  universe  was  divided  between  the  brothers, the 
sea  was  given  to  Poseidon.  He  was  equal  to  Zeus  in  dignity,  but 
not  in  power.  He  once  conspired  with  Hera  (Juno),  and  Athena 
(Minerva),  to  put  Zeus  in  chains,  but  usually  he  was  submissive  to 
the  more  powerful  god.  His  palace  was  in  the  depths  ^^  the  ^gean 
Sea,  and  there  he  kept  his  horses.  These  had  brazen  hoofs  and 
golden  manes.  He  rides  over  the  waves  in  a  chariot  drawn  by 
these  horses,  and  the  sea  becomes  smooth  at  his  appearance,  while 
the  monsters  of  the  deep  gambol  and  play  around  him.  Troy  was 
called  Neptuna  Pergama,  because  Poseidon  assisted  Apollo  to  sur- 
round it  with  walls  for  king  Laomedon,  who  refused  to  give  them 
their  promised  reward,  and  Poseidon  sent  a  sea-monster  to  ravage 
the  country,  which  was  killed  by  Hercules.  He  always  hated  the 
Trojans,  and  assisted  the  Greeks  against  them.  He  prevented  the 
return  of  Ulysses,  in  revenge  for  his  having  blinded  Polyphemus,  the 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


481 


son  of  Poseidon.  When  he  contested  with  Athena  for  the  naming 
of  Athens,  he  created  the  horse  for  man.  He  was  the  originator 
and  patron  of  horse-races,  and  taught  men  t©  manage  horses  with 
bridles.  When  he  pursued  Demeter  (Ceres),  he  changed  himself 
into  a  horse.  His  wife  was  Amphitrite,  and  by  her  he  was  father  of 
Triton,  Rhode,  and  Benthesicyme.  He  was  also  father  of  many 
others  by  mortal  women,  and  by  other  divinities.  The  horse  and 
chariot  races  on  the  Corinthian  Isthmus,  were  held  in  his  honor. 
The  animals  sacrificed  to  him  were  usually  black  and  white  bulls ; 
but  wild  boars  and  rams  were  sometimes  used.  The  trident  or  the 
spear  with  three  points  was  his  weapon  and  the  symbol  of  his  power. 
With  it  he  shattered  rocks,  shook  the  earth,  and  brought  on  storms. 
In  art  he  is  often  represented  in  groups  with  Amphitrite,  Tritons, 
Nereids,  etc.,  etc.,  and  is  easily  recognized  by  his  attributes,  which 
are  the  trident,  horses,  and  dolphins. 

Pri'amus  (Priam).  Son  of  Laomedon.  His  real  name  was  Po- 
darces,  the  swift  footed,"  but  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  Hercules, 
and  was  ransomed  by  Hesione,  his  sister,  hence  he  was  called  Pria 
mus,  "  the  ransomed."  Husband  of  Arisba  and  Hecuba.  Father  of 
fifty  sons,  nineteen  the  children  of  Hecuba.  He  was  too  old  to  be 
active  in  the  Trojan  war.  He  superintended  the  contest  between 
Paris  and  Menelaus.  He  went  to  the  tent  of  Achilles  to  ransom 
the  body  of  Hector.  At  the  fall  of  Troy  he  was  slain  by  Pyrrhus, 
son  of  Achilles. 

Pria'pus.  Son  of  Dionysus  (Bacchus)  and  Aphrodite  (Venus). 
Born  on  the  shores  of  the  Hellespont,  and  hence  called  Hellespontir 
acus.  God  of  fruitfulness.  Especially  the  protector  of  flocks,  of 
bees,  of  the  vine,  and  fruits  of  the  garden.  Usually  represented  in 
the  form  of  hermas,  a  sickle  or  horn  of  plenty  in  his  hand,  and  car- 
rying fruit  in  his  garments. 

Prome'theus.  Son  of  the  Titan  lapetus  and  Clymene.  Brother 
of  Atlas,  Menoetius,  and  Epimetheus.  The  name  of  the  latter  signi- 
fies "  after-thought,"  and  that  of  Prometheus  "  fore-thought."  In 
spite  of  Zeus  (Jupiter)  he  was  a  great  benefactor  to  men.  He  stole 
fire  from  heaven  in  a  hollow  tube,  and  taught  mortals  many  use- 
ful arts.  Zeus  gave  Pandora  to  Epimetheus  (see  Pandora),  and 
chained  Prometheus  to  a  rock  on  Mount  Caucasus.  Here  an  eagle 
consumed  his  liver  by  day,  which  was  restored  each  night.  Zeus 
consented  that  Hercules  should  kill  the  eagle,  and  thus  liberate  the 
sufferer.  Zeus  did  this  in  order  that  his  son  might  gain  never  end- 
ing fame.  There  is  a  legend  that  Prometheus  created  man  by  fash- 
ioning him  from  earth,  and  giving  him  a  portion  of  every  quality 
possessed  by  other  animals. 

Proser  pina.    See  Persephone. 

Protesila'us.    Son  of  Iphiclus  and  Astyoche.    Born  at  Phylace 
in  Thessaly.   Called  Phylacius  and  Phylacides,  either  from  his  birth- 
31 


482 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


place,  or  his  grandfather  Phylacus.  He  was  the  first  Greek  who 
leaped  upon  the  shores  of  Troy,  and  the  first  one  killed.  He  was 
slain  by  Hector. 

Pro'teus.  The  old  man  prophet  of  the  sea  who  tended  the  seals 
which  made  the  flocks  of  Poseidon  (Neptune).  At  mid-day  he  rose 
from  the  water,  and  slept  on  the  rocks  with  sea-monsters  all  about 
him.  He  did  not  like  to  prophesy,  and  in  order  to  compel  him  to 
do  so  it  was  necessary  to  catch  hold  of  him  while  thus  asleep.  He 
could  change  his  shape,  and  would  assume  all  manner  of  hideous 
forms  to  escape,  but  if  one  persevered  and  kept  a  hold  on  him,  he 
at  length  prophesied,  told  the  truth,  and  then  returned  to  the  sea. 
Homer  says  he  lived  on  the  island  of  Pharos,  but  a  day's  journey 
from  the  river  ^gyptus  (Nile)  ;  but  Virgil  places  him  on  Carpathos 
between  Crete  and  Rhodes. 

Psy'che,  "  The  Soul,"  was  one  of  the  three  daughters  of  a  king. 
She  was  so  lovely  that  Venus  was  jealous  of  her  and  commanded 
Cupid  to  inspire  her  with  love  for  the  most  contemptible  of  men. 
Cupid  hastened  to  obey,  but  when  he  saw  Psyche,  he  was  so  enam- 
ored of  her  that  he  carried  her  to  a  charming  retreat  where  he 
spent  each  night  with  her,  but  fled  at  the  approach  of  day.  Her  sis- 
ters being  jealous  of  her  declared  that  she  was  receiving  the  em- 
braces of  a  hideous  creature.  So  she  approached  him  with  a  lamp  as 
he  slept,  and  was  enraptured  at  beholding  the  beautiful  god.  She 
dropped  from  her  lamp  a  bit  of  hot  oil,  which  fell  on  his  shoulder. 
Awaking,  he  reproached  her  for  her  distrust,  and  left  her  to  return 
no  more.  She  was  wretched,  and  wandered  from  place  to  place 
searching  for  him.  At  length  she  came  to  the  palace  of  Venus,  who 
made  her  a  slave  and  treated  her  with  great  cruelty.  Cupid,  who 
still  loved  her,  helped  her  secretly  to  bear  her  burdens,  and  at  last 
she  overcame  the  hatred  of  Venus  and  won  her  love.  Then  she 
was  received  among  the  gods,  and  united  to  Cupid  forever.  This 
allegory  plainly  represents  the  soul  that  is  purified  by  trial,  and  at 
length  made  happy  in  heaven.  Psyche  is  represented  in  art  as  a 
maiden  with  butterfly  wings,  and  often  together  with  Cupid  in  the 
various  circumstances  of  the  story  above. 

Pudici'tia.  Personification  of  Modesty.  Worshipped  in  Greece 
and  Rome.  At  Rome  two  sanctuaries  were  dedicated  to  her :  one 
in  the  name  of  Pudicitia  patricia ;  the  other  Pudicitia  pleheia.  At 
Athens  an  altar  was  dedicated  to  her. 

Pyl'ades.  Son  of  Strophius  and  Anaxibia,  sister  of  Agamemnon. 
His  father  was  king  of  Phocis.  After  the  murder  of  Agamemnon, 
Orestes  was  carried  to  the  court  of  Strophius,  and  there  originated 
his  friendship  for  Pylades,  which  became  proverbial.  He  assisted 
Orestes  to  murder  Clytaemnestra,  and  married  his  sister  Electra. 

PyrThus.    See  Neoptolemus. 

Re'mus.    See  Romulus. 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


483 


Rhe'a  (Cybele).  Daughter  of  Uranus  and  Ge  (Heaven  and 
Earth).  Wife  of  Cronus 
(Saturn).  Mother  of  Hestia 
(Vesta),  Demeter  (Ceres), 
Hera  (Juno),  Hades  (Pluto), 
Poseidon  (Neptune),  and 
Zeus  (Jupiter).  Cronus  swal- 
lowed all  his  children,  but 
when  Khea  was  about  to  give 
birth  to  Zeus,  she  went  to 
Lyctus  in  Crete.  She  gave 
Cronus  a  stone  wrapped  up 
like  a  child.  He  swallowed 
this  supposing  it  to  be  the 
infant.  Many  places  claim  to 
have  been  the  birth-place  of 
Zeus ;  but  undoubtedly,  Crete 
was  the  earliest  place  where  Khea  was  worshipped.  She  was 
in  truth  the  great  goddess  of  the  eastern  world.  In  Asia  Minor 
she  was  identified  with  "  The  Great  Mother "  or  the  "  Mother 
of  the  Gods."  Also  called  Cybele,  Agdistis,  Dindymene,  etc., 
etc.  Her  worship  became  wild  and  exciting  from  the  introduction 
of  eastern  rites,  and  in  the  and  it  was  closely  connected  with 
that  of  Dionysus  (Bacchus).  As  Cybele  she  was  worshipped 
in  Phrygia ;  as  Agdistis  at  Pessinus  in  Galatia,  and  linder  various 
names  she  was  honored  even  as  far  as  Bactriana.  The  Romans  from 
the  earliest  times  worshipped  Ops,  the  mother  of  Jupiter  and  wife  of 
Saturn,  who  was  identical  with  Khea.  In  European  countries  she 
was  supposed  to  be  accompanied  by  Curetes,  who  were  connected 
with  the  birth  and  rearing  of  Zeus  in  Crete.  In  Phrygia  she  was 
associated  with  the  Corybantes,  Atys,  and  Agdistis.  The  Cory- 
bantes  were  her  priests.  They  danced  on  the  mountains  and  in  the 
forests  in  full  armor,  having  drums,  cymbals,  and  horns.  In  Rome 
her  priests  were  called  Galli.  The  lion  was  sacred  to  her,  and  in 
works  of  art  her  chariot  is  sometimes  drawn  by  lions,  or  they  crouch 
on  each  side  of  her  throne,  where  she  is  often  represented  as  seated 
with  a  mural  crown  and  a  veil. 

Rhe'a    Silvia.     See  Romulus. 

Rom'ulus.  Son  of  Mars  (Ares)  and  Rhea  Silvia.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Numitor,  and  a  Vestal  Virgin.  Her  father  was  a  de- 
scendant of  lulus  and  ^neas,  and  was  excluded  from  the  throne  of 
Alba  Longa  by  his  brother  Amulius.  Rhea  Silvia  and  her  twin 
sons,  Romulus  and  Remus,  were  condemned  to  death,  for  it  was  not 
lawful  for  a  Vestal  Virgin  to  bear  children.  The  babes  were  thrown 
into  the  Tiber,  but  the  cradle  containing  them  was  stranded,  and 
the  children  were  suckled  by  a  she-wolf  who  carried  them  to  her 


Rhea  or  Cybele. 


484 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


cave.  Here  they  were  found  by  Faustulus,  the  king's  shepherd, 
who  carried  them  to  Acca  Larentia,  his  wife.  When  they  were 
grown  up,  they  decided  to  found  a  city  on  the  banks  of  the  Tiber, 
but  a  strife  arose  as  to  which  brother  should  give  his  name  to  the 
city,  and  Remus  was  slain.  Romulus  soon  found  that  he  had  too 
small  a  number  of  people,  so  he  made  a  sanctuary  for  runaway 
slaves  and  homicides,  on  the  Capitoline  Hill.  Soon  he  had  men 
enough,  but  women  were  wanting.  Then  he  instituted  games,  and 
invited  the  Sabines  and  Latins,  and  when  all  were  assembled,  the 
Roman  youths  rushed  upon  them  and  seized  the  virgins.  Hence 
arose  a  war ;  but  when  the  Romans  and  Sabines  were  formed  for 
battle,  the  Sabine  women  who  had  been  stolen  rushed  in  and  begged 
their  fathers  and  brothers  to  lay  down  their  arms,  declaring  them- 
selves happy  with  their  Roman  husbands.  Then  they  made  peace, 
^  and  agreed  to  unite  to  form  one  nation,  with  both  a  Roman  and  a 
Sabine  king ;  but  soon  after,  the  Sabine  king,  Titus  Tatius,  was 
slain,  and  Romulus  reigned  over  all.  He  reigned  thirty-seven 
years,  when  his  father.  Mars,  took  him  to  heaven  in  a  fiery  chariot. 
Not  long  after,  he  appeared  to  Julius  Proculus  in  immortal  beauty, 
and  bade  him  instruct  the  Roman  people  to  worship  him  under  the 
name  of  Quirinus.  This  is  the  genuine  legend.  Another  tradition 
relates,  that  the  senators,  displeased  at  his  tyranny,  murdered  him 
during  a  tempest,  cut  him  in  pieces,  and  carried  away  his  remains 
beneath  their  robes. 

Sabi'na  (Poppasa).  Daughter  of  T.  Ollius,  who  took  the  name 
of  her  grandfather,  Poppaeus  Sabinus.  Wife  of  Rufius  Crispinus, 
and  then  of  Otlio,  who  was  the  intimate  friend  of  Nero.  She  was 
of  wonderful  beauty,  but  wanting  in  virtue.  Nero  soon  became  en- 
amored of  her  and  sent  Otho  to  Lusitania  as  governor.  Poppaea 
then  became  the  mistress  of  Nero,  and  governed  him  absolutely. 
She  was  resolved  to  be  the  wife  of  the  emperor,  and  persuaded  him 
to  murder  his  mother,  Agrippina,  who  would  not  hear  of  the  mar- 
riage, and  soon  after  to  divorce  and  at  length  to  kill  his  wife  Octa- 
via.  Then  she  accomplished  her  designs  and  married  Nero  who, 
three  years  later,  killed  her  by  a  kick  when  she  was  pregnant. 

Sabi'nus,  Fla'vius.  Brother  of  the  emperor  Vespasian.  Was 
prcefectus  urbis  during  the  last  eleven  years  of  the  reign  of  Nero. 
He  was  removed  under  Galba,  and  restored  under  Otho  and  Yitel- 
lius.  During  the  struggle  between  Vespasian  and  Vitelhus,  Sabinus 
took  refuge  in  the  capitol.  The  capitol  was  burned,  and  Sabinus 
put  to  death,  in  the  presence  of  Vitellius,  who  tried  in  vain  to  save 
him.  He  was  a  man  of  unspotted  character  and  distinguished  rep- 
utation. 

Sap'pho.  A  native  of  Mytilene  or  of  Eresos  in  Lesbos.  A  con- 
temporary of  Alcaeus,  Stesichorus,  and  Pittacus.  Together  with 
Alcaeus  she  led  the  ^olian  school  of  lyric  poetry.    Her  own  poetry 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


485 


and  that  of  Alcaeus  proves  them  to  have  been  friends.  Ovid  alludes 
to  her  flight  from  Mytilene  to  escape  some  danger,  between  604  and 
592  B.  C.  It  is  also  said  that  she  threw  herself  from  the  Leuca- 
dian  rock  because  her  love  for  Phaon  was  not  returned.  But  this  is 
not  probable.  She  was  the  centre  of  a  female  literary  society  in 
Mytilene,  the  members  of  which  were  her  disciples  in  gallantry,  poe- 
try, and  fashion.  Her  lyric  poems  made  nine  books,  of  which  we 
have  but  scanty  iragments ;  but  the  most  important  part,  a  splendid 
ode  to  Yenus,  we  probably  have  entire.  The  ancient  authors  were 
unbounded  in  their  praise  of  her  writings. 

Sardanapalus.  The  last  king  of  Nineveh.  The  account  of 
Ctesias  concerning  him  has  been  followed  by  most  writers.  It  con- 
tradicts Herodotus  and  the  Old  Testament  writers,  but  is  preserved 
by  Diodorus  Siculus,  and  is  the  one  commonly  referred  to  in  con- 
nection with  its  subject.  It  represents  him  as  effeminate,  luxurious, 
and  licentious.  He  passed  his  time  in  his  palace  with  concubines, 
himself  in  female  attire,  and  unseen  by  his  people.  At  last  Arbaces, 
satrap  of  Medea,  and  Belesys,  a  noble  Chaldsean  priest,  renounced 
their  allegiance  to  him  and  marched  against  Mneveh.  Then  Sar- 
danapalus  was  roused  from  his  luxurious  idleness  and  showed  him- 
self a  brave  warrior.  He  twice  defeated  the  rebels,  but  was  then 
obliged  to  shut  himself  up  in  Nineveh.  He  held  out  against  the  be- 
siegers two  years,  and  when  this  was  no  longer  possible  he  collected 
his  treasures,  his  wives,  and  concubines  in  an  immense  pile  which  he 
set  on  fire,  and  throwing  himself  therein  he  thus  destroyed  all  to- 
gether.    B.  C.  876. 

Satur'nus.     See  Cronus,  Rhea,  and  Zeus. 

Sat'yri.  A  class  of  beings  who  personify  the  luxuriant  vitality 
of  nature.  Inseparably  associated  with  the  worship  of  Dionysus 
(Bacchus).  Said  to  be  the  sons  of  Hermes  (Mercury)  and  Iph- 
thima  or  of  the  Naiades.  The  older  ones  are  called  Sileni,  the 
younger  Satyrisci.  They  were  greatly  dreaded  by  mortals.  Orig- 
inally they  were  quite  distinct  from  the  Fauni,  but  have  been  con- 
founded with  them  in  later  writings.  They  had  two  small  horns 
growing  out  of  the  top  of  the  forehead,  bristling  hair,  and  pointed 
eyes,  round  and  turned  up  noses,  and  a  tail  like  a  horse  or  a  goat. 
They  were  fond  of  wine  and  all  sensual  pleasures.  They  wore  the 
skins  of  animals  and  wreaths  of  ivy,  fir,  or  vine  leaves.  In  art  they 
are  of  all  ages,  and  are  sleeping,  dancing  voluptuously  with  nymphs, 
and  playing  on  pipes  and  flutes. 

Scyria  and  Charyb'dis.  Two  rocks  between  Italy  and  Sicily. 
Scylla  was  a  daughter  of  Crataeis  and  dwelt  in  a  cave  on  one  of 
these  rocks.  She  was  a  fearful  monstrosity.  She  had  twelve  feet, 
six  necks  and  heads,  with  three  rows  of  sharp  teeth  in  each,  and 
she  barked  like  a  dog.  A  great  fig-tree  grew  on  the  other  rock, 
and  beneath  it  dwelt  Charybdis.    Three  times  each  day  she  swal- 


486 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


lowed  all  the  waters  of  the  sea  and  threw  them  up  again.  This  is 
Homer's  account,  but  later  writers  differ.  Hercules  is  said  to  have 
killed  Scylla  because  she  stole  some  of  the  oxen  of  Geryon,  and 
Phorcys  restored  her  to  life.  Virgil  speaks  of  the  plural,  Scyllae, 
and  places  them  in  the  lower  world.  Charybdis  is  made  the  child 
of  Poseidon  (Neptune)  and  Ga^a  (Tellus),  and  described  as  a  vora- 
cious woman  who  stole  the  oxen  from  Hercules,  and  was  thrown  into 
the  sea  by  a  thunderbolt  from  Zeus  (Jupiter). 

Semir'amis.  Daughter  of  Derceto,  fish-goddess  of  Ascalon,  and 
a  Syrian  youth.  Derceto,  wishing  to  conceal  her  frailty,  killed  the 
father  and  exposed  the  child,  who  was  fed  by  doves  until  found  by 
some  shepherds.  The  shepherd  of  the  royal  flocks,  called  Simmas, 
brought  her  up,  and  from  his  name  hers  was  derived.  The  won- 
derful beauty  of  Semiramis  attracted  Onnes,  a  general,  who  married 
her.  She  displayed  such  bravery  and  military  skill  at  the  siege  of 
Bactra  that  Ninus  was  attracted  to  her,  and  also  charmed  by  her 
beauty  so  that  he  determined  to  make  her  his  wife.  Onnes  killed 
himself  in  despair.  She  had  a  son  by  Ninus  called  Ninyas.  Upon 
the  death  of  Ninus  she  succeeded  to  the  throne,  and  reigned  forty- 
two  years  when  she  resigned  the  kingdom  to  Ninyas,  and  leaving 
the  earth  flew  to  heaven  in  the  shape  of  a  dove.  Her  fame  far  ex- 
ceeded that  of  Ninus,  who  built  the  city  of  Ninus  or  Nineveh.  Se- 
miramis erected  a  tomb  for  him  in  that  city,  nine  stadia  high  and 
ten  wide.  She  built  other  cities  and  magnificent  buildings  ;  she 
conquered  Egypt,  some  part  of  Ethiopia,  and  many  nations  of  Asia. 
She  built  Babylon  and  made  the  hanging  gardens  of  Media,  but  she 
failed  to  conquer  India,  which  she  attacked.  The  foundation  of 
this  story,  so  evidently  fabulous,  is  probably  this  :  Semiramis  was  a 
Syrian  goddess,  perhaps  identical  with  the  heavenly  Aphrodite  or 
Astarte  who  was  worshipped  at  Ascalon.    The  dove  was  sacred  to 

this  goddess,  hence  the  story  of 
the  heavenly  flight.  There  were 
accounts  of  her  voluptuousness 
which  would  also  prove  this  iden- 
tity. 

Sera'pis  (Sarapis).  An  Egyp- 
tian goddess  whose  worship  was 
introduced  into  Greece  during  the 
reign  of  the  Ptolemies,  and  into 
Rome  with  that  of  Isis. 
Sile'ni.  See  Satyri. 
Sile'nus.  Son  of  Hermes  (Mer- 
cury, or  of  Pan  and  a  nymph,  or 
Gsea  (Tellus).  He  always  accom- 
panied Dionysus  (Bacchus),  whom 
he  is  said  to  have  instructed  when 


Silenus.    (Bronze  of  Pompeii.) 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


487 


a  youth.  Nysa  was  said  to  be  his  birthplace.  He  slew  the  giant 
Enceladus.  He  was  a  fat,  jolly  old  man,  and  usually  intoxicated  y 
generally  supported  by  other  satyrs,  or  riding  on  an  ass.  He  was 
withal  an  inspired  prophet,  and  when  drunk  or  asleep  was  in  the 
power  of  mortals,  who  could  compel  him  to  prophesy  and  sing  by 
surrounding  him  with  chains  of  flowers.  He  is  mentioned  as  the 
inventor  of  the  flute,  as  are  also  Marsyas  and  Apollo.  Silenus 
is  often  represented  playing  upon  it ;  there  is  also  a  certain  dance 
called  by  his  name. 

Sire'nes  (Sirens).  Called  the  daughters  of  Phorcus  ;  of  Ache- 
lous  and  Sterope  ;  of  Terpsichore  ;  of  Melpomene  ;  of  Calliope  or  of 
Gaea.  Some  say  they  were  two  in  number :  Aglaopheme  and  Thelx- 
iepia ;  others  that  there  were  three :  Pisinoe,  Aglaope,  and  Thelx- 
iepia,  or  Parthenope,  Ligia,  and  Leucosia.  They  were  sea-nymphs, 
and  charmed  all  who  heard  their  songs.  When  Ulysses  came  near 
their  home  he  stuffed  the  ears  of  his  companions  with  wax,  and  tied 
himself  to  the  mast  until  they  were  beyond  the  sound  of  the  voices 
of  these  singers.  They  were  connected  with  the  rape  of  Proser- 
pina. When  the  Argonauts  sailed  past  their  home,  their  attempts 
to  charm  them  were  unavailing,  for  Orpheus  excelled  them  in  the 
sweetness  of  his  music  ;  and  as  they  were  fated  to  die,  when  one  who 
heard  their  song  passed  by  unmoved,  they  then  threw  themselves 
into  the  sea,  and  were  changed  into  rocks. 


Sisyphus,  Ixion,  and  Tantalus. 


Sis'yphus.  Son  of  iEolus  and  Enarete,  and  called  JEoUdes. 
Husband  of  Merope,  the  daughter  of  Atlas  or  a  Pleiad.  Father 
of  Glaucus,  Ornytion  (Porphyrion),  Thersander,  and  Halmus.  Later 
traditions  make  him  the  son  of  Autolycus,  and  father  of  Ulysses  by 
Anticlea.  Hence  Ulysses  is  sometimes  called  Sisypliides.  Sisyphus 
was  said  to  have  built  the  town  of  Ephyra,  or  Corinth.  As  king  of 
Corinth  he  did  much  for  commerce,  but  was  deceitful  and  avaricious. 
In  the  lower  world,  his  punishment  is  to  roll  a  huge  stone  up  hill, 
which  always  rolls  down  again  as  soon  as  it  reaches  the  top. 


488 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


Sy'rinx.  An  Arcadian  nympli.  Pan  pursued  her,  and  she  fled 
to  the  river  Ladon.  At  her  own  request,  she  was  metamorphosed 
into  a  reed,  from  which  Pan  made  his  pipe  or  flute. 

Ta'ges.  Son  of  a  Genius,  Jovialis,  and  grandson  of  Jupiter 
(Zeus).  He  was  Hke  a  boy  with  the  wisdom  of  an  old  man.  He 
rose  suddenly  out  of  the  ground,  and  instructed  the  Etruscans  and 
Tarchon  in  the  use  of  the  haruspices.  All  that  he  said  was  written 
down,  and  was  said  to  fill  twelve  books,  called  the  books  of  Tages. 

Tan'talus.  Son  of  Jupiter  (Zeus)  and  the  nymph  Plato.  Hus- 
band of  Euryanassa,  or  of  Taygete  or  Dione,  or  of  Clytia,  or  of 
Eupryto.  Father  of  Pelops,  Broteas,  and  Niobe.  All  traditions 
agree  that  he  was  a  wealthy  king  ;  some  say  of  Argos,  others  of 
Lydia,  and  again  of  Corinth.  One  tradition  relates  that  he  divulged 
the  secrets  of  Jupiter,  and  is  punished  in  Hades  with  burning  thirst, 
while  he  is  in  the  midst  of  a  lake  whose  waters  always  recede  if  he 
attempts  to  drink ;  bunches  of  fruit  hang  over  his  head  in  such  a 
way  that  he  cannot  catch  them,  and  a  great  rock  is  suspended  as  if 
just  about  to  fall  and  crush  him.  Again  it  is  said,  that  in  order  to  test 
the  power  of  the  gods  he  cut  up  his  son  Pelops,  boiled  him  and  gave 
him  to  them  as  a  repast ;  again,  that  he  stole  nectar  and  ambrosia 
from  the  gods,  for  which  he  was  punished.  Still  another  account  says, 
that  when  Pandareus  stole  a  golden  dog,  which  Rhea  had  appointed  to 
watch  Zeus  (Jupiter)  and  his  nurse,  Tantalus  received  and  kept  it. 
From  his  name  and  punishment  comes  the  English  verb  "  to  tanta- 
lize." 

Ta'tius,  T.    King  of  the  Sabines.    (See  Romulus.) 

Terephus.  Son  of  Hercules  and  Auge  daughter  of  Aleus,  king 
of  Tegea.  Husband  of  Laodice,  or  Astyoche,  daughter  of  Priam. 
He  consulted  the  Delphic  oracle  in  order  to  learn  his  origin,  and  was 
told  to  go  to  Teuthras,  king  of  Mysia.  There  he  found  his  mother, 
and  succeeded  to  the  throne  of  Mysia.  He  endeavored  to  prevent 
the  Greeks  from  landing  there,  but  Dionysus  (Bacchus)  caused  him 
to  stumble  over  a  vine,  and  he  was  wounded  by  Achilles.  He  was 
told  by  an  oracle,  that  the  wound  could  only  be  cured  by  the  person 
who  had  inflicted  it ;  and  the  Grecians  were  also  told  that  they  could 
not  take  Troy  without  the  aid  of  Telephus.  Hence  when  he  came  to 
the  camp,  Achilles  cured  him  with  the  rust  from  the  spear  with 
which  he  had  been  wounded,  and  he  in  turn  pointed  out  their  course 
to  them. 

Terpsich'ore.    See  Musae. 

Thali'a.    See  Musae. 

The'seus.  Son  of  ^geus,  king  of  Athens,  and  ^thra,  daughter 
of  Pittheus,  king  of  Troezene.  He  was  reared  in  Troezene,  and 
when  old  enough  took  the  sword  and  sandals  which  had  been  left  by 
^geus  and  went  to  Athens.  He  made  the  journey  by  land,  and 
did  many  brave  deeds  on  the  way,  such  as  killing  monsters  and 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


489 


robbers  which  infested  the  country,  ^geus  recognized  Theseus  by 
the  sword ;  and  made  him  his  successor,  excluding  the  sons  of  Pallas. 
Then  Theseus  captured  the  Marathonian  bull  which  had  laid  waste 
the  country.  Next  he  went  to  Crete  as  one  of  the  seven  youths 
which  were  sent  every  year,  together  with  seven  maidens,  as  a  trib- 
ute to  the  Minotaur.  He  was  determined  to  free  Athens  from  this 
necessity.  Ariadne,  the  daughter  of  king  Minos,  loved  him,  and 
gave  him  a  sword  with  which  he  killed  the  monster,  and  a  thread 
by  means  of  which  he  made  his  way  out  of  the  labyrinth.  He  then 
left  Crete  with  his  companions  whom  he  had  preserved,  and  Ariadne 
also.  Accounts  vary,  but  the  usual  one  relates  that  he  deserted  her 
at  Naxos.  (Ariadne).  He  is  said  to  have  had  two  sons  by  her, 
GEonopion  and  Staphylus.  Before  leaving  Athens  he  had  promised 
that  if  successful  he  would  on  his  return  hoist  a  white  signal.  This 
he  forgot  to  do,  and  ^geus,  believing  that  his  son  had  been  slain, 
threw  himself  into  the  sea.  Thus  Theseus  became  king  of  Athens. 
One  of  his  exploits  was  an  attack  upon  the  Amazons,  which  he  is 
said  to  have  made  before  they  had  recovered  from  that  of  Hercules. 
Theseus  carried  off  their  queen  Antiope.  The  Amazons  in  turn  at- 
tacked Attica,  and  went  even  to  Athens  itself,  where  Theseus  finally 
defeated  them.  By  Antiope  he  was  father  of  Hippolytus  or  Demoph- 
oon.  After  her  death  he  married  Phasdra.  He  was  in  the  Argo- 
nautic  expedition ;  he  joined  the  Calydonian  hunt ;  he  assisted 
Adrastus  to  recover  the  bodies  of  those  slain  before  Thebes ;  he 
aided  his  friend  Pirithous  and  the  Lapithae  against  the  Centaurs ; 
together  with  Pirithous  he  carried  Helen  to  Aphidnae  when  a  young 
girl,  and  placed  her  in  care  of  ^thra;  he  attempted  to  assist 
Pirithous  to  recover  Proserpina  from  the  lower  world,  but  Pirithous 
perished,  and  Theseus  was  held  a  prisoner,  until  freed  by  Hercules. 
During  this  time  Castor  and  Pollux  carried  off  Helen  and  ^thra. 
At  the  same  time  Menestheus  endeavored  to  influence  the  people 
against  Theseus,  and  when  he  returned  he  was  not  able  to  resume 
his  government.  He  then  went  to  Scyros,  where  he  was  treacher- 
ously slain  by  Lycomedes.  He  is  believed  to  have  appeared  at  the 
battle  of  Marathon.  He  is  without  doubt  a  purely  legendary  charac- 
ter, but  later  Athenians  regarded  him  as  an  historical  personage,  and 
the  founder  of  many  of  their  institutions. 

The'tis.  Daughter  of  Nereus  and  Doris.  Wife  of  Peleus.  Mother 
of  Achilles.  She  dwelt  with  her  father  in  the  bottom  of  the  sea. 
She  received  Dionysus  (Bacchus)  there  when  he  fled  from  Lycurgus, 
and  in  gratitude  he  presented  her  with  a  golden  urn.  She  also 
protected  Hephaestus  (Yulcan)  when  thrown  down  from  heaven. 
Hera  (Juno)  had  brought  her  up,  and  when  she  was  old  enough, 
Zeus  (Jupiter)  and  Hera  gave  her  to  Peleus  against  her  will.  Po- 
seidon (Neptune)  and  Zeus  himself  desired  to  marry  her,  but  Themis 
declared  that  the  son  of  Thetis  should  excel  his  father,  and  the  gods 


490 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


withdrew  their  suit.  Another  tradition  relates  that  Thetis  rejected 
Zeus  because  she  had  been  reared  by  Hera,  and  in  revenge  Zeus 
declared  she  should  marry  a  mortal.  Thetis  had  power  like  Proteus 
to  assume  any  form  she  chose,  but  Chiron  instructed  Peleus,  and  he 
held  her  fast  until  she  promised  to  marry  him.  It  was  at  their 
marriage-feast  that  Eris,  who  was  not  invited,  made  the  famous 
quarrel  by  means  of  the  golden  apple.  (Paris).  Thetis  bestowed 
much  love  and  care  upon  Achilles. 

Tire'sias.  A  renowned  soothsayer.  A  Theban,  and  blind  from 
his  seventh  year.  He  lived  to  be  very  old.  The  cause  of  his  blind- 
ness, and  the  origin  of  his  prophetic  power,  are  variously  related. 
He  was  connected  with  many  important  events  in  the  history  of 
Greece,  and  it  was  believed  that  after  death,  while  other  mortals 
were  mere  shades,  he  retained  his  powers  of  perception.  During 
the  war  of  the  Seven  against  Thebes  he  declared  that  if  Menoeceus 
would  sacrifice  himself,  Thebes  would  be  victorious.  In  the  war  of 
the  Epigoni,  after  the  Thebans  were  defeated,  he  advised  them  to 
make  a  ruse  of  commencing  negotiations  for  peace,  and  then  to  take 
the  opportunity  to  escape.  He  fled  with  them,  or  was  carried  cap- 
tive to  Delphi,  but  on  his  way  drank  of  the  well  of  Tilphossa  and 

died. 

Tri'ton.  Son  of  Poseidon 
(Neptune)  and  Amphitrite  (or 
Celaeno).  He  dwelt  with  his 
father  in  a  golden  palace  at  the 
bottom  of  the  sea,  or  at  ^gae. 
He  is  described  as  riding  over 
the  waves  on  sea-horses  and  mon- 
sters. The  plural,  Tritons,  is 
mentioned  and  their  appearance 
described.  They  were  men  in 
the  upper  portion  of  their  bodies, 
and  fish  in  the  lower.  Their 
attribute  in  poetry  and  art  is  a 
Triton.  shell,  concJia,  which  they  blow 

at  Neptune's  command  to  calm  the  waves  of  the  sea. 

Ulys'ses  (Ulyxes,  Ulixes,  Odysseus).  Son  of  Laertes  and  An- 
ticlea,  or  of  Sisyphus  and  Anticlea.  Husband  of  Penelope  and 
father  of  Telemachus.  He  was  distinguished  for  his  valor  and 
eloquence.  He  is  said  to  have  invented  the  wooden  horse,  and  was 
one  of  the  heroes  concealed  in  it.  He  assisted  in  carrying  off  the 
Palladium.  He  fought  with  Ajax  for  the  arms  of  Achilles  and  gained 
the  prize.  Homer's  "  Odyssey  "  is  an  account  of  the  adventures  of 
Ulysses  after  the  fall  of  Troy.  He  visited  the  Cicones  and  Lotoph- 
agi,  and  then  sailed  to  the  west  coast  of  Sicily,  where  with  twelve 
companions  he  entered  the  cave  of  Polyphemus,  the  Cyclops.  The 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


491 


giant  ate  six  of  the  companions  of  Ulysses,  and  reserved  him  and  the 
remaining  six  as  prisoners.  Ulysses  succeeded  in  making  Polyphe- 
mus drunk,  and  with  a  burning  pole  put  out  his  single  eye.  He 
then  concealed  himself  and  his  companions  under  the  bodies  of  the 
sheep  which  the  monster  let  out  of  his  cave,  and  in  this  way  they 
escaped.  He  next  went  to  the  island  of  ^olus  and  the  god  gave 
him  a  bag  of  winds  to  take  him  home,  but  his  companions  opened 
the  bag  and  the  winds  all  escaped,  and  they  were  driven  back  to 
iEolus,  but  he  refused  to  assist  them  again.  He  then  visited  Tele- 
pylos,  and  next  the  island  where  dwelt  the  sorceress  Circe.  Ulysses 
sent  a  part  of  his  number  to  explore  the  island  and  she  turned  them 


Ulysses  and  Tiresias. 

into  swine.  Eurylochus  however  escaped,  and  told  the  sad  truth  to 
Ulysses,  who  while  hastening  to  his  friends  was  taught  by  Hermes 
(Mercury)  how  to  resist  the  power  of  the  sorceress.  He  succeeded 
in  freeing  his  companions  from  her  spell,  and  was  treated  kindly  by 
her.  She  advised  him  to  cross  the  river  Oceanus.  He  landed  in 
the  country  of  the  Cimmerians  and  went  to  Hades,  where  he  con- 
sulted Tiresias  concerning  the  way  in  which  he  could  reach  home. 
He  then  returned  to  Circe,  and  she  gave  him  a  wind  that  sent  him 
to  the  island  of  the  Sirens,  but  he  filled  the  ears  of  his  companions 
with  wax  and  tied  himself  to  the  mast  until  beyond  the  sound  of 
their  song.  In  passing  between  Scylla  and  Charybdis,  the  former 
carried  away  six  of  his  companions.  Next  he  landed  on  Thrinacia, 
and  here  his  companions,  in  spite  of  the  warning  of  Tiresias,  killed 
some  of  the  oxen  of  Helios.  In  punishment  of  this,  when  next  they 
put  to  sea,  Zeus  (Jupiter)  destroyed  their  vessels,  and  all  save 
Ulysses  perished.    He  clung  to  a  mast,  and  after  ten  days  reached 


492 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


the  island  of  Ogygia,  where  the  nymph  Calypso  lived.  She  loved 
him,  and  promised  him  immortality  if  he  would  remain  with  her,  but 
after  eight  years  he  longed  for  his  home,  and  Athena  (Minerva)  re- 
quested Hermes  to  carry  to  Calypso  a  command  from  Zeus  to  let 
Ulysses  go.  Calypso  showed  him  how  to  make  a  raft,  and  in 
eighteen  days  he  came  to  Scheria,  the  home  of  the  Phseacians. 
Then  Neptune  (Poseidon)  raised  a  storm  which  threw  him  from  his 
raft,  but  Leucothia  and  Athena  assisted  him  to  swim  ashore.  Here 
he  fell  asleep  from  exhaustion.    He  was  awakened  by  the  voices  of 


Ulysses  and  the  Sirens. 


Nausicaa  and  her  maidens.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Alcinous  and 
Arete.  She  took  him  to  her  father's  palace,  where  the  minstrel 
Demodocus  sang  the  fall  of  Troy.  The  hero  wept,  and  when  ques- 
tioned of  the  reason  of  his  grief,  related  his  whole  history.  Then 
king  Alcinous  prepared  a  ship  to  take  him  to  Ithaca,  from  which  he 
had  been  absent  about  twenty  years.  During  this  time  Laertes  had 
withdrawn  into  the  country.  Anticlea  had  died.  Penelope  had 
rejected  many  suitors,  and  Telemachus  had  grown  up.  Athena 
metamorphosed  Ulysses  into  a  beggar,  and  he  was  kindly  received 
by  Eumseus,  a  faithful  servant.  Soon  Telemachus  returned  from 
Pylos  and  Sparta,  where  he  had  been  to  inquire  concerning  his 
father.  Ulysses  made  himself  known  to  him,  and  together  they 
arranged  a  plan  for  the  death  of  the  suitors  of  Penelope.  She  was 
induced  with  much  difficulty  to  promise  herself  to  him  who  should 
excel  in  shooting  with  the  bow  of  Ulysses.  None  of  the  suitors 
could  use  it  on  account  of  its  size  and  weight.    Ulysses  then  took  it 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART 


493 


and  sliot  all  the  suitors.  He  then  made  himself  known  to  Penelope, 
who  received  him  with  great  joy.  He  also  visited  his  aged  father. 
The  relatives  of  the  suitors  now  rose  against  him,  but  Athena  as- 
sumed the  appearance  of  Mentor  and  succeeded  in  effecting  a  recon- 
ciliation between  the  king  and  his  subjects. 

XJra'nia.  (l.)  A  muse.  Daughter  of  Mnemosyne  by  Zeus 
(Jupiter).  The  bard  Linus  is  said  to  be  the  son  of  Apollo  and 
Urania.  Hymenseus  was  also  considered  her  son.  She  was  the 
muse  of  astronomy,  and  her  attributes  are  a  celestial  globe  and  a 
small  staff.  (2.)  Daughter  of  Oceanus  and  Tethys,  and  a  nymph 
in  the  train  of  Proserpina  (Persephone).  (3.)  A  surname  of  Aphro- 
dite (Venus),  meaning  "the  heavenly,"  and  intended  to  distinguish 
her  from  Aphrodite  Pandemos.  Wine  was  never  offered  in  her 
libations.  Plato  represents  her  as  the  child  of  Uranus,  begotten 
without  a  mother. 


Yenti.  (Vatican  Virgil.) 


Venti  (the  Winds).  They  are  personified,  and  yet  are  the 
phenomena  of  nature.  The  master  and  ruler  of  winds  is  JEolus, 
who  lives  in  the  island  of  ^olia.  Other  gods  have  power  over  them, 
especially  Zeus  (Jupiter).  Boreas  is  the  north  wind  ;  Eurus  the 
east  wind  ;  Notus  the  south  wind ;  and  Zephyrus  the  west  wind. 
The  beneficial  winds,  Notus,  Boreas,  Argestes,  and  Zephyrus,  were 
sons  of  Astrseus  and  Eos.  The  destructive  winds,  such  as  the 
Typhon,  were  sons  of  Typhoeus.  Between  Boreas  and  Eurus  are 
placed  the  Meses,  Caicias,  and  Apeliotes.  Between  Eurus  and 
Notus,  the  Phoenicias.    Between  Notus  and  Zephyrus,  Lips ;  and 


494 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


between  Zepliyrus  and  Boreas,  the  Argestes  (Olympias  or  Sciron), 
and  tlie  Tlirascias.  This  is  the  arrangement  of  Aristotle,  who  also 
says  that  Eurus  is  not  east  but  southeast.  There  is  a  different 
arrangement  upon  a  monument  in  the  Museum  Pio-Clementinum. 
The  Venti  are  represented  in  art  with  wings  at  the  head  and 
shoulders.  Black  lambs  were  sacrificed  to  the  bad,  and  white  ones 
to  the  good  winds. 

Ve'nus  (Aphrodite).  Goddess  of  Love.  At  Eome  she  was  not 
important  until  she  was  identified  with  the  great  Aphrodite.  But 


Venus  (Aphrodite)  and  Eros  (Cupid). 


ishe  was  at  length  worshipped  in  various  characters.  The  surname 
of  Murtea  or  Murcia,  referred  to  her  fondness  for  the  myrtle.  That 
of  Calva,  to  the  fact  that  on  her  wedding-day  the  bride  cut  off  a 
lock  of  hair  to  sacrifice  to  Yenus.  She  was  worshipped  as  Yenus 
Erycina,  Yenus  Yerticordia,  Yenus  Obsequens  and  Postvorta,  Yenus 
Genitrix,  and  Yenus  Yictrix.  Cassar  favored  her  worship  because 
he  traced  his  descent  to  ^neas,  said  to  be  the  son  of  Mars  (Ares) 
and  Yenus.  The  month  of  April  was  especially  sacred  to  the  god- 
dess of  love. 

Vertum'nus  (Yortumnus).  The  Romans  connected  this  god 
with  everything  to  which  the  verb  verto,  to  change,  could  be  ap- 
plied ;  such  as  change  of  seasons,  purchase  and  sale,  etc.,  etc.  But 
the  transformation  of  the  blossom  to  the  fruit  was  in  reality  his 
proper  c?ire.    When  he  was  in  love  with  Pomona,  he  changed  to  all 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART. 


495 


manner  of  forms  to  please  her,  and  at  last  succeeded  as  a  blooming 
youth.  Gardeners  offer  him  the  first  fruits,  and  especially  budding 
garlands.  The  Vortumnalia  was  celebrated  on  the  23d  of  August. 
The  worship  of  Yertumnus  at  Rome  was  so  important  that  it  was 
attended  by  a  special  flamen. 

Vesta  (Hestia).  Goddess  of  the  hearth,  and  connected  with 
the  Penates.  It  was  believed  that  ^neas  brought  her  eternal  fire 
from  Troy  with  these  gods.  The  praetors,  consuls,  and  dictators 
sacrificed  to  her  before  assuming  their  offices,  as  well  as  to  the  Pe- 
nates. As  every  house  had  a  hearth,  so  each  one  was  a  temple  of 
this  goddess,  but  her  special  temple  was  in  the  Forum,  not  far  from 
that  of  the  Penates.  There  was  no  statue  to  represent  her,  but  the 
eternal  fire  on  the  hearth  personified  her,  and  was  kept  alive  by 
Yestal  Virgins,  chaste  and  pure.  The  1st  of  March  was  the  day 
when  the  sacred  fire  was  renewed,  and  also  the  laurel  tree  which 
shaded  the  hearth.  The  15th  of  June  the  temple  was  purified. 
The  dirt  removed  was  placed  in  an  angiportus,  and  this  locked  by 
a  gate  so  that  none  could  enter.  The  first  half  of  this  day  was 
thought  so  inauspicious,  that  even  the  priestess  of  Juno  did  not 
comb  her  hair  or  cut  her  nails,  but  the  last  half  was  thought  very 
favorable  for  marriage  or  the  commencement  of  any  important 
thing.  On  the  9th  of  June  the  Vestalia  was  kept,  when  only  women 
went  to  the  temple,  and  they  barefooted. 

Virginia.  Daughter  of  L.  Yirginius,  a  Roman  centurion.  She 
was  betrothed  to  L.  Icilius,  but  the  decemvir  Appius  Claudius,  enam- 
ored of  Jier  beauty,  was  determined  to  possess  her.  One  of  his 
clients  claimed  her  as  his  slave,  when  her  father  was  away  with  the 
army ;  but  her  lover  summoned  her  father,  and  he  arrived  the  very 
morning  that  judgment  was  to  be  rendered,  and  Yirginia  delivered 
to  the  decemvir.  Wlien  Yirginius  found  that  he  had  no  power  to 
control  the  decision,  and  that  Yirginia  would  be  delivered  to  Appius 
Claudius,  he  asked  to  be  allowed  to  speak  to  her  and  her  nurse. 
This  was  granted,  and  drawing  them  aside,  he  seized  a  butcher's 
knife  from  a  stall  near  by,  and  plunged  it  into  the  breast  of  his 
daughter,  exclaiming,  There  is  noway  but  this  to  keep  thee  free!  " 
Then  holding  the  bloody  knife  on  high,  he  rushed  to  the  Roman 
camp.  Then  the  people  arose,  the  decemvirs  were  deprived  of 
their  office,  and  the  tribunes  restored.  Yirginius  was  the  first 
elected.  He  sent  Appius  Claudius  to  prison,  and  there  he  killed 
himself 

Vulca'nus  (Hephaestus,  Yulcan).  His  worship  was  important 
at  Rome,  and  his  temple  was  regarded  as  a  kind  of  centre  of  the 
state.  The  temple  of  Concord  was  built  upon  the  site  of  the  tem- 
ple of  Yulcan.  His  most  ancient  festival  was  called  Fornacalia  or 
Furnalia,  he  being  the  god  of  furnaces.  His  great  festival  was 
Yulcanalia,  on  the  23d  of  August. 


496 


ANCIENT  MYTHS 


Zeph'yrus.    The  West  Wind.    Dwelt  with  Boreas  in  a  palace  in 

Thrace.  By  the  harpy  Podarge, 
I    he  became  the  father  of  the 
?    horses   Xantlms  and  Balius ; 
jj    these   belonged    to  Achilles. 
The  wife   of   Zephyrus  was 
Chloris,  whom  he  carried  away 
by  force,  and  who  was  the 
mother  of  Carpus. 

Zethus.   Twin  brother  of 

Zephyrus.    (Athens.)  ^  Amphion. 

Zeus  (Jupiter).  The  great- 
est Olympian  god.  Son  of  Cronus  (Saturn)  and  Rhea.  Brother  of 
Poseidon  (Neptune),  Hades  (Pluto),  Hestia  (Vesta),  Demeter  (Ceres), 

and  Hera  (Juno),  to  which  last 
he  was  married.  When  the 
world  was  divided  between 
the  three  brothers.  Hades  re- 
ceived the  lower  world,  Posei- 
don the  sea,  and  Zeus  the 
heavens  and  upper  regions  of 
air,  while  the  earth  was  equally 
free  to  all.  Mount  Olympus  in 
Thessaly  was  believed  to  pierce 
heaven  itself  with  its  lofty  sum- 
mit, and  this  was  the  home  of 
Zeus.  Everything,  both  good 
and  bad,  came  from  Zeus.  He 
possessed  all  power  over  gods 
and  men,  and  founded  all  law 
and  order.  Dice  (Astra3a),  goddess  of  justice,  Themis,  goddess 
of  order,  and  Nemesis,  who  measured  the  misery  and  happiness  of 
mortals,  were  his  assistants.  Even  fate  was  subject  to  him.  He 
was  armed  with  thunder  and  lightning,  and  called  "the  thunderer," 
"  the  gatherer  of  clouds,"  etc.,  etc.  The  shaking  of  his  aegis  produced 
storms  and  tempest.  By  his  wife  Hera,  he  was  father  of  Ares  (Mars), 
Hephaestus  (Vulcan)  and  Hebe.  Mount  Dicte  or  Ida,  Thebes  in 
Boeotia,  Ithome  in  Messenia,  ^gion  in  Achaia,  and  Olenos  in 
jEtolia,  have  all  been  called  the  birthplace  of  Zeus,  but  the  common 
account,  and  the  one  generally  followed  is,  that  because  Cronus 
swallowed  his  children  as  soon  as  born,  Bhea  applied  to  Uranus  and 
Ge  (Heaven  and  Earth)  for  assistance  before  the  birth  of  Zeus,  in 
order  that  the  child  might  be  saved.  They  sent  her  to  Lyctos  in 
Crete.  At  his  birth  she  hid  him  in  a  cave  of  Mount  ^gseon, 
and  gave  Cronus  a  stone  wrapped  up  as  a  child,  which  he  swal- 
lowed, believing  it  to  be  the  infant.    At  last  Cronus  was  made 


Zeus.    (Medal  in  British  Museum.) 


ILLUSTRATED  IN  ART, 


497 


to  bring  up  the  children  he  had  swallowed  :  first  came  the  stone, 
which  was  afterwards  set  up  at  Delphi  by  Zeus.  The  Cyclopes 
whom  Cronus  had  fettered  were  liberated  by  Zeus,  and  in  grati- 
tude they  gave  him  thunder  and  lightning.  He  also  freed  Bria- 
reos,  the  one  hundred  armed  Gigantes,  Cottus,  and  Gyes,  all  of 
whom  assisted  him  to  conquer  the  Titans.  When  these  last  were 
overpowered  they  were  shut  up  in  Tartarus  and  guarded  by  the  Hec- 
atoncheires.  Then  Typhoeus  was  born  of  Tartarus  and  Ge.  He 
struggled  desperately  with  Zeus,  but  was  conquered.  The  god  now 
being  ruler  over  all  took  Metis  for  his  wife.  When  she  was  preg- 
nant, by  the  advice  of  Uranus  and  Ge,  he  took  the  child  from  her 
body  and  placed  it  in  his  head,  that  thereby  he  might  preserve 
his  power  ;  for  if  Metis  had  given  birth  to  a  son,  that  son  would 
have  displaced  Zeus.  Thus  Athena  (Minerva)  sprang  forth  from 
the  head  of  Zeus.  He  was  also  father  of  the  Horag  and  Moeree  by 
Themis ;  of  the  Charites  (Graces)  by  Eurynome  ;  of  Persephone 
(Proserpina)  by  Demeter ;  of  the  Muses  by  Mnemosyne,  and  of 
Apollo  and  Artemis  (Diana)  by  Leto  (Latona).  It  is  said  that 
Hera  gave  birth  to  Hephsestus  (Vulcan)  independently,  in  revenge 
for  the  birth  of  Athena  without  her  aid.  The  Cronidae,  or  the 
twelve  Olympian  gods,  were  Zeus  (Jupiter)  the  greatest  of  all ; 
Poseidon  (Neptune)  god  of  the  sea;  Apollo,  god  of  prophecy,  of 
song  and  music,  protector  of  flocks,  god  of  punishment,  god  who 
gives  help  and  turns  away  evil,  and  who  establishes  civil  govern- 
ments and  founds  cities  and  towns ;  Ares  (Mars)  god  of  war ; 
Hermes  (Mercury),  the  messenger  of  the  gods  ;  Hephaestus  (Vulcan) 
god  of  fire;  Hestia  (Vesta)  goddess  of  the  hearth;  Demeter  (Ceres) 
goddess  of  the  earth ;  Hera  (Juno)  goddess  of  love,  marriage,  and 
births ;  Athena  (Minerva)  goddess  of  war  and  of  wisdom,  and  pa- 
troness of  arts  and  trades ;  Aphrodite  (Venus)  goddess  of  love ;  and 
Artemis  (Diana)  goddess  of  light,  of  flocks  and  the  chase,  and  in 
short  representing  the  same  idea  as  a  female  that  Apollo  does  as  a 
male,  the  especial  protectress  of  the  young.  Both  Greeks  and 
Romans  recognized  these  gods,  and  the  poets  of  both  nations  gave 
Zeus  or  Jupiter  many  surnames  derived  from  the  powers  which  he 
exercised,  and  from  the  places  where  he  was  worshipped.  The  oak, 
the  heights  of  mountains,  and  the  eagle,  were  sacred  to  him.  In 
Arcadia  and  Dodona,  the  oak  and  prolific  doves  were  sacred  to  him, 
and  the  Dodonsean  Zeus  has  a  wreath  of  oak-leaves,  while  the  Olym- 
pian Zeus  sometimes  has  a  wreath  of  olive.  In  art  he  is  represented 
as  the  father  of  gods  and  men,  and  his  attributes  are  the  eagle, 
thunderbolt,  sceptre,  cornucopia,  and  a  figure  of  victory  in  the 
hand. 

32 


i 


